As The Travel Corporation (TTC) works through its restructure plan Uniworld, which will lead the company’s luxury segment, has flagged some ambitious growth plans for the Kiwi market.
The all-inclusive boutique river cruise brand plans to increase its profile, both in the Kiwi market and globally, with a quadrupling of it marketing spend in a strategic plan dubbed Unworld 2.0.
. . . 2.0
The refreshed Uniworld proposition will offer the same inclusions, the same crew, the same service, and the same culinary excellence, says visiting Uniworld managing director Australia New Zealand Alice Ager. “We’re [taking] a global look at our brand…if we want to stay in that real top of the range space, we’ve got to do some work and we’re about to get a big brand push, and I can’t tell you how excited I am.” Uniworld sales from New Zealand have doubled since 2019, attributed to the strong post C19 demand for luxury travel—and continue to grow. Ager told those at this week’s trade launch that recently-appointed local bdm Alka Thappar is charged with working with the Kiwi trade to grow its sales and take Uniworld ‘to the next level’. Uniworld is set to grow its capacity by 40% in the next five years, via new-build ship SS Emilie, inspired by Gustav Klimt (due to enter service in Mar), a new ship purpose-built for Portugal’s Douro Rover (due to enter service in Aug) as well as chartering Crystal ships which will sail as the SS Victoria and SS Elisabeth. In addition, Uniworld plans to add two new ships a year from 2027, starting with the SS Audrey and SS Marlene to operate on the Rhine an Danube. And the cruise line is looking to work with the trade to fill that extra capacity, says Ager. “I’m delighted to share with you that [new TTC owners] Apollo, see the world of travel, the same way we do, and that is that our travel agents are the most important element the most important part of our growth strategy. We need you, and that’s an investment into you to take us. Help us, get to this five-year growth plan and to fulfil our goals. As such Uniworld is also incentivising retail consultants by announcing a 1% point of sale commission increase, for sales to 31 Dec.
See more pics from the trade event HERE.
