Danish cruise agency MyCruise is launching a new base in the UK and has recruited Paramount Cruises’ Sam Redfearn to take the helm.
The agency, which also has bases in Sweden and Norway, was launched in 2008, and employs 29 people across the three countries.
Redfearn, who recently stepped down from his role as head of operations and partnerships at Paramount Cruises after nearly six years in the role, told Travel Weekly MyCruise will launch its UK operation within the next few weeks as it finalises a Southampton office and puts the “finishing touches” on its website.
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During that time, Redfearn said he plans to recruit an agent to work with him and launch a marketing campaign to “get the word out” on the agency.
“We need to get at least one salesperson on board very quickly so we are looking for someone who has a few years of experience under their belt,” he said.
“We then want to take on three or four people within the next 12 months, although if we find people who are a right match for us, we will take on more. It’s all about having the right people.
“I have some contacts within the industry I might reach out to and see if they want to join us, but I also know there is a huge array of talent out there so we will be happy to cast a wider net.”
MyCruise co-owner Nicki Olsen said he has “always wanted” to expand the agency into the UK market, and feels that now is the right time to do it.
He shared plans to make the UK base the biggest in MyCruise’s portfolio.
“We have always wanted to launch in the UK because it is the second biggest cruise market in the world, but we needed the right person to take the lead and Sam is the guy so now that we’ve got him we are ready to go,” said Olsen.
“The UK is way bigger than our other markets and our vision is that it will be greater than what we have in Denmark, Sweden or Norway.
“We are different from other agencies are we develop our own dynamic packaging which gives our customers flexibility to book their cruise and the system will find flights and accommodation to suit them.
“I don’t think many other agencies can offer what we can, so I think a lot of new-to-cruise and young people will engage with us because we are so IT-focused and flexible.”
Redfearn added: “We’ve got some ambitious plans; we want to be up there with the top five cruise travel agencies in the country. Our initial vision is to be competing with the big name brands within the next year or two.”