p26 cruise sep19 16/9/08 09:26 Page 26
Cruise
Lee Hayhurst
020 7921 8001
lhayhurst@ttglive.com
For the latest cruise news, visit ttglive.com/cruise
Ace target is to
reach all agents
THE ASSOCIATION of Cruise Experts will continue
to focus on building its agent membership having
scooped a TTG award for its training programme.
Andy Harmer, director of business development,
said last week’s National Cruise Week was help-
ing to establish Ace as a consumer-facing brand.
But he said that despite Ace now being
among the biggest travel agency membership
organisations – it welcomed Tui Travel Group and
Thomas Cook into the fold this year – there was
still scope to grow.
“The whole thing I wanted to do when I joined
was to give people a reason to be a member of
Ace,” Harmer said.
“It’s about proving to the trade there is a value
in working with us and there is value to cruise.
“It’s been damn hard work and we could not
have achieved it without the support of the
cruise lines and the agents.
Cunard toasts the
“There are still a lot of agents who do not sell
cruise and a lot of agents who do not focus on
cruise. Our target is to reach everybody.”
Harmer said the two biggest achievements of
past and future
the past year were Cruise Week, during which
more than 2,000 shops held consumer events,
Last week’s TTG Travel Awards was a successful night for the
and the Ace Cruise Convention in Southampton,
which attracted more than 800 delegates.
cruise industry. Lee Hayhurst spoke to the winners
SCOOPING the TTG Travel Award for best large new ship Queen Victoria was named by the
cruise line capped a “special year” for Cunard, Duchess of Cornwall in a spectacular ceremony
whose boss paid tribute to the brand’s heritage. in Southampton, just had the edge.
Speaking after he picked up the award, Last year’s winner, Royal Caribbean Interna-
Carnival UK chief operating officer Peter Shanks tional, which unveiled the third and final of its
(pictured) paid tribute to the crews on the line’s Freedom-class of ships, the world’s largest, in
three ships and its president Carol Marlow. Southampton and dedicated it to the UK market
“This year we have had the history and the by basing it in the port, came a close second.
heritage with the retirement of the QE2 and we P&O Cruises, which welcomed Ventura, its
have also managed to introduce the future of largest-ever ship, into its fleet, made up the top
Cunard with Queen Victoria,” he said. three of the six shortlisted entries.
“It has been a very special year. My first The judging panel felt the standing of the
reaction is to think of the people who work Cunard brand had been significantly enhanced
onboard our ships. This award is for them and I in the UK over the past 12 months, allowing the
should also give credit to Carol.” line to maintain its pricing while overcapacity
In what was one of the most hotly contested had forced rivals to discount.
categories, judges struggled to separate the And they said the line was even able to make
three major lines that had significant ship a virtue of its decision to sell the legendary QE2
launches this year in the UK. after 40 years of service to developers in Dubai
Winner: Ace business development director Andy Harmer In the end it was decided Cunard, whose where it will be converted into a floating hotel.
26 19.09.2008
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