UPMARKET cruiseline Silversea Cruises has appointed a dedicated manager to increase the company’s share of the conference and incentive market.
Maarten Tromp was previously director of incentive group sales for Equity Group, the general sales agent for Carnival Cruise Lines.
His brief at Silversea is to increase awareness of the brand among business conference and incentive organisers in the UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa. Currently, this market accounts for 20% of Silversea’s business.
One of his first tasks will be to launch a dedicated conference and incentive brochure which will give details of all of the facilities on offer on Silversea’s fleet of ships.
Tromp said:”A lot of conference organisers do not think of ships when they get a request to organise an event. But a ship is actually a great alternative and can often work out very cost-effectively, as food and facilities are included in the overall price. Silversea is very much a niche product which would appeal to a lot of people.”
The cruiseline has two 290-passenger ships, Silver Wind and Silver Cloud. The main show lounge can be used as a conference hall and there are separate rooms for break-out sessions.
All conference facilities are included in the price and special menus are available on request.
The range of conference and incentive programmes which the company has carried out recently varies from small groups on a one-week cruise to bigger companies which have taken the whole ship on a three-week charter.
The cruiseline will launch two 388-passenger ships. Silver Shadow will join the fleet in September, and Silver Mirage which will join in May 2001. More information can be found at: www.silversea.com.