Hays Travel is looking to boost its cruise sales by creating more of its own packages through the tour operating arm of the company.
The company’s new head of cruise Sarah Miller told Travel Weekly that she was looking at a number of avenues which could create further revenue from cruise, including creating packages similar to the offerings of Hays Faraway.
Miller’s role will see her take charge of cruise for the whole group, encapsulating retail, call centres, homeworkers and our independent group members.
“Retail is doing very well, as are our personal travel consultants and the call centre,” she said. “We have a fantastic network of IG members such as the Scotland Cruise Centre and Cruise 118 and they are selling cruise amazingly well – they obviously really know their stuff.
“My role will be driving sales further and looking at the ways we can do that.”
Miller, who previously worked at Royal Caribbean Line as a national account manager, said Hays’ Faraway tour operating packages had been a great success and packages were something she was keen to develop for cruises.
“The tour operating side of the business is going really well,” she said. “The Faraway packages sell fantastically so it is definitely something I am looking to bring to the cruise side of things.
“We want to create exclusive packages which are a bit different and something our agents can get selling.
“Some cruise operators have been doing this for a while now so this will great for our agents to have to offer their customers.
There are also plans to alter the company’s website to encourage customers to have further interaction with the call centre, and to expand the company’s cruise team under Miller.
Miller, who has also worked for Carnival Cruise Line, said she was keen for agents to promote cruise to loyal Hays customers who are new-to-cruise.