The UK market over the last couple of years has “exploded”, according to the president and chief executive of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises.
Speaking on a visit to the UK to meet with trade partners and press, Ellen Bettridge said: “The UK is one of only two regions that has exceeded its 2019 numbers. The US has just made it over the threshold, but the UK has well exceeded it.
“People here are now booking one, two and even three river cruises at a time. Business is back and it’s fun.”
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UK managing director Chris Townson attributed his market’s performance to his “brilliant” sales team, whom he said had worked tirelessly to keep agents engaged and trained.
“We started producing two minute videos as part of our ‘Where Next?’ programme for agent to send to their customers to inspire them. We’ve also done many training sessions in The Milestone Hotel in High Street Kensington, which is owned by our sister company Red Carnation Hotels, and the décor and the beds are the same as you find on our ships, so it gives them a feeling of Uniworld,” he said.
Townson said the company had got more agents on board its ships through incentives and concessions than ever before and planned to get even more to sail in 2023.
And he said his team were now planning a series of consumer events so top trade partners could invite their top clients to come and here all about new itineraries.
Townson said he was also in talks with a number of luxury tour operators about them featuring Uniworld Boutique River Cruises in their programmes and brochures to give the line even greater distribution.
He added that agents being able to get through to Uniworld’s res team in under 30 seconds had also made a real difference to its performance.