AAAs preview Q&A: Azamara’s David Duff says entertainment sponsor will thank agents in ‘meaningful way’

David Duff, UK and EMEA managing director of Azamara Cruises, looks forward to showing appreciation for the trade at Travel Weekly’s Agent Achievement Awards 2025

Q. Why is Azamara Cruises sponsoring this year’s entertainment at the AAAs?
A. It’s our way of showing our appreciation for the hard work, dedication and ongoing support of our travel agent partners. Their enthusiasm for learning about Azamara and sharing our story with their clients has been instrumental in our growth. Sponsoring the entertainment allows us to say thank you in a meaningful way where agents can enjoy and reflect on their well-deserved achievements over the past year.

 

Q. How has 2025 been so far?
A. It’s been an exciting and successful year for Azamara. We saw a 20% revenue increase during the wave season for the UK market, alongside an increase in customer satisfaction ratings – both have contributed to a rise in repeat bookings. Our call centre continues to perform well, supporting agents and customers alike. We also launched Destination Immersion Elevated, which introduces enhanced experiences such as authentic local cuisine, cultural connections and immersive excursions. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see the response from both guests and the trade.

 

Q. What are your hopes for the rest of 2025?
A. We will continue to strengthen our relationships with the trade, which means continuing to provide engaging, innovative ways for agents to connect with our brand and learn about our evolving product. We are especially excited about expanding awareness of Destination Immersion Elevated. Our aim is to keep building momentum, broaden our reach and ensure our partners have the tools they need to succeed.

 

Q. How are you supporting your travel agent partners?
A. Agents are fundamental to Azamara’s success and supporting them remains our top priority. We’ve introduced several initiatives, including three strategic promotions for the UK market and the launch of the Azamara World Academy – a training platform where agents can become certified experts in our brand. Beyond training, we’re rewarding agents through exclusive incentives – at the time of writing, we’re preparing to host a VIP trip to Barcelona for 10 top-performing agents, giving them a unique opportunity to see our three sister ships in port and engage directly with Azamara’s executive team.

 

Q. What is your fondest AAAs memory?
A. Last year, Peter Andre performed and even danced on the tables while we all sang along to
his hits. This memory is hard to beat and perfectly captures how much fun the AAAs are.

 

Q. What was the last holiday you went on?
A. A skiing weekend with friends in Morzine.

 

Q. What was the first holiday you went on?
A. I think my very first holiday was to Rhyl, Wales.

 

Q. Where will your next trip be to?
A. I’m about to travel to Spain with our winning VIP agents for our sister ships meet-up in Barcelona.

 

Q. Which destination surprised you most?
A. I visited Opatija in Croatia on a short cruise with Azamara and was amazed at how beautiful it was. It has great 19th-century architecture that I found very reminiscent of the French Riviera. We also saw a parade of vintage cars stop by us while we were enjoying an evening drink – discovering hidden gems is what cruising and Azamara is all about.

 

Q. Who’d be your dream travel companion?
A. Michael Palin, because of his great personality, humour and travel experience. Also, his have-a-go attitude and many stories would keep me entertained.

 

Q. Which song will get you onto the dance floor at the AAAs?
A. I can’t say I’m a big dancer, but the AAAs is such a fun event and it’s always great to see the industry come together and celebrate success.