THE ADVISORY BOARD 60


seconds with... Connie Georgiou sales director, Silversea Cruises


Q. What’s new for Silversea Cruises this year? We’ve got two ships being launched next year: Silver Moon and Silver Origin, an expedition ship that will replace Silver Galapagos. In addition, we’re launching our first expedition world cruise. It’s 167 days and the itinerary is fabulous. It’s


our 25th anniversary in April too, so that’s really exciting.


Q. How important is the UK travel trade to Silversea? We’ve always worked closely with the trade. Our product is so niche that it’s difficult to sell it on a website; you have to be able to bring it alive – and that’s what the trade can do.


Q. How are you supporting agents who want to sell your product? We’re going to be doing more ship visits this year and we’ll be working closely with Clia on that. We’re also going to do a series of nationwide trade events to educate agents on new products. Plus, our advocate scheme returns for a third year, where we recognise people who really support the brand.


Q. What tips would you offer agents selling luxury cruise? I would always tell them to break down the price and look at what it includes. The headline price may be quite scary, but when you break it down and compare it with what you would pay to stay in a luxury hotel, and then add on the food, drink and service, it’s quite reasonable.


Q. What is the biggest challenge facing cruise sales at the moment? Attracting new people to cruising. I think there’s still a myth that it’s for a certain age group, so we have to get out there and appeal to new people. Once people have experienced cruising, they’re hooked.


Steering the Aspire Travel Club Our panel of travel professionals covers the


spectrum of the luxury market and plays a major role in helping Aspire Travel Club evolve


Amanda Matthews Designer Travel designertravel.co.uk


Kate Fenton 100% PURE New Zealand


newzealand.com/luxury


Andy Harmer Clia UK & Ireland cruiseexperts.org


Lynn Narraway Seabourn seabourn.com


Nicola McNeish Celebrity Cruises celebritycruises.co.uk


Priti Mehta Oceania Cruises oceaniacruises.com


Carole Short Beaver Travel beavertravel.com


Rick Milne Carrier carrier.co.uk


Jamie Loizou AmaWaterways amawaterways.co.uk


Stephen Winter Ponant


ponant.co.uk


Jeanne Lally Travel Bureau travelb.co.uk


John Sullivan The Advantage Travel Partnership advantagemembers.com


Wendy Greenhalgh AccorHotels Luxe accorhotels.com


28 ASPIRE FEBRUARY 2019


aspiretravelclub.co.uk


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