TRAVEL agents will be able to offer their own “white labelled” cruise booking websites through Creative Cruising, under an initiative unveiled by the cruise wholesaler during the Express Travel Group (ETG) conference in Bangkok last weekend. ETG Executive GM, Ari Magoutis, said the sites can be branded with individual travel...
TRAVEL agents will be able to offer their own “white labelled” cruise booking websites through Creative Cruising, under an initiative unveiled by the cruise wholesaler during the Express Travel Group (ETG) conference in Bangkok last weekend.
ETG Executive GM, Ari Magoutis, said the sites can be branded with individual travel agency logos and contact details, and would allow clients to search from as many 35,000 sailings.
Customers can request quotes and even book online, while agencies using the system will be able to cross-promote and link directly to sailings and packages from their digital marketing platforms.
Magoutis (pictured) also highlighted the ongoing strength of the cruise market, particularly from international ports, with average cabin fares sold through the group for 2020 currently tracking at significantly higher levels than this year.
Average fares are higher for cruise departures from Singapore, Rome, Venice, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Southampton, while the figures showed prices remaining steady for cruises ex Honolulu, Vancouver, Barcelona and Miami.
However, Magoutis also highlighted an increasing trend to higher port charge components in fares, which reduce yield because they are non-commissionable.
Creative Cruising was acquired by CT Investments in Sep 2017 from The Travel Corporation, and has now relocated from Bondi to the Sydney CBD.
The acquisition has also seen the company invest heavily in its IT infrastructure, with the Odysseus cruise platform forming the background of the new white label agent sites.
