UPMARKET specialist Abercrombie and Kent has taken on new staff following its further expansion into Europe.
The operator has doubled its European reservations team from two to four and appointed a sales manager to oversee the section.
The move follows the launch of Abercrombie’s first dedicated Europe brochure. Previously it produced an Italian brochure which has now been incorporated into the main programme.
Head of planning Stuart Douglass-Lee said the launch followed a growth in European holidays over the last two years.
“We have seen approximately a 25% increase in European bookings so a dedicated brochure was a natural choice,” he said.
“It is anticipated that during our first year we will carry 1,500 passengers.”
Douglass-Lee said the programme had taken two years to get off the ground and in that time all the properties had been tried and tested.
The brochure, which completes the operator’s 1999 portfolio, features France, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Germany, Russia, Morocco, Cyprus, Turkey and Italy. France has been re-introduced after being dropped two years ago.
Cruising in the Mediterranean and northern Europe and rail journeys are included in the new programme along with walking safaris in Andalucia and The Lot Valley in France.
Douglass-Lee said short breaks would also be featured. “It is a market which is growing in Europe and we want to be part of it,” he said.