P&O Cruises hosted about 100 agents at the star-studded 2024 British Academy Television Awards (Baftas) and invited them to walk the red carpet alongside some of television’s most famous faces.
The cruise line, which was headline sponsor of the event for the second consecutive year, invited about 500 guests to a party in the Skylon lounge of London’s Southbank Centre which took place before and after the main ceremony, in the neighbouring Royal Festival Hall, on Sunday, May 12.
Of the attendees, roughly 100 were agency owners and frontline agents – about 70 of whom were Shine Rewards Club members who had won a competition run by the line in the build-up to the event.
To enter, they had to ‘like’ one of P&O Cruises’ prize-draw social media posts and comment explaining how they and a colleague had ‘shone so brightly’.
Emily Jacobs, Paul Hardwick and Gemma Hopkins (Fred Olsen Travel) meet Jeff Goldblum
There were also competition-winning P&O Cruises customers at the pre and post-awards party, which featured live musicians and DJs accompanied by saxophone players, as well as familiar faces from television including contestants from the latest series of The Traitors.
Among the guests was Fred Olsen Travel director of retail Paul Hardwick, who said: “It was such an amazing day and I felt so privileged to be there.
“The highlight was meeting some of the celebrities, especially Jeff Goldblum, who was a genuinely nice person; he seemed more than happy to have his photo taken with us.
“To mingle with people like that was amazing and quite surreal. Walking down the red carpet with my staff was great fun – it made us feel like proper celebrities and not just travel celebrities!”
Emma Rubio and Sam Redfearn (MyCruise) on the red carpet
Barrhead Travel’s Nicki Tempest-Mitchell described it as a “pinch-me moment” on social media, as she shared pictures she had taken of celebrities on the day including Declan Donnelly and Emily Atack.
Sam Redfearn, head of MyCruise UK, who attended with cruise consultant Emma Rubio, described the event as an “incredible day”.
“It was an experience not to be forgotten,” he added. “Congratulations to P&O Cruises on a triumph of an event. Everything from walking the red carpet to the ceremony and after-party was amazing. Thank you, P&O Cruises!”
Rob Scott, vice president of sales, marketing & brand for P&O Cruises, said: “We’re immensely proud of our partnership with the Bafta television awards, which stands as a core part of our strategy to drive brand consideration and enhance perception.
“Our association with these iconic British awards highlights our commitment to our distinctively British holiday offering, and we are privileged that we get to share this money-can’t-buy experience with our agent partners. The successful partnership with the Bafta TV awards is testament to the tremendous team effort across the P&O Cruises team and we look forward to continuing to work together next year.”
Main image: Paul Hardwick, Gemma Hopkins and Emily Jacobs from Fred Olsen Travel with Claudia Winkleman and Vernon Kay