Imagine Cruising has reported record growth as it continues to reap the advantages of dnata Travel ownership and expands into Australia.
The online cruise-and-stay retailer, which also has offices in Dubai and South Africa, now operates under the Imagine Group name and reported 25% growth in sales in 2016.
Emirates-owned dnata Travel bought a 51% stake in 2015 for an undisclosed sum, with Imagine owning the remaining 49%.
Speaking a month after opening offices in Australia, development director Peter Shanks said:
“Being part of the dnata Travel and Emirates family has opened up a wide range of destination, hotel, and tour opportunities around the world that have helped us to offer our customers a wider range of cruise-and-stay holidays.
“Distribution through Travel Republic Cruise and Emirates Holidays Cruise means we can make our cruise-and-stay holidays available to more people.
“The Emirates route network covers a wide range of cruise destinations and the product and service has been very well received by our customers, while its marketing strength around the world is really impressive.”
Shanks said there were no plans to open stores in the UK or Australia, but those in Dubai and South Africa remained successful.
The Imagine Group team consists of 130 staff at its offices in Royal Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire, 59 in Cape Town, 20 in Dubai and 15 in Brisbane.
The firm’s global expansion has heralded new appointments, with Robin Deller becoming chief executive of Imagine Group and Natalie Maye named managing director for Imagine Cruising UK.
Elle Hudson has been appointed managing director for Imagine Cruising Australia.
In the UK, Zoey Chant has been appointed head of digital, while Becky Williams is now head of international trading.