Skills Zone

Latest from the Cruise Club

Quick updates

Some of our members are posting regular updates on their cruise activity using Twitter. Find out what they're up to below...

Tracy McFall

Adele Parry

Director, TR4 Travel, Flintshire, Cheshire

Cruise sales (% of overall business): 30%
Number of staff: Three
Type of business: High-street travel agency
Cruise sales target increase for 2008: 50%

Adele has been in the industry for 23 years, and began focusing on cruise after she opened her own agency in June 2007. She now believes it will become a key part of her enterprise.

Like many agents keen to increase their share of the cruise market, Adele is aware of the value of getting as much help from as many sources as possible.

“I find the most challenging aspects are the growth in the market and keeping up to speed with new ships and itineraries in order to recommend the right ships to clients,” she said.

David Sixsmith

Travel consultant, Personal Travel Advisor, Winstanley, Wigan

Cruise sales (% of overall business): 5%
Number of staff: Homeworker
Type of business: See above
Cruise sales target increase for 2008: 30%

David Sixsmith has been in the industry for about 30 years and started in a high-street agency. “I went on to work for Future Travel and have been there since the homeworking division started 11 years ago,” he said.

He has sold cruise but not in any volume. “It has been just one or two a year to regular customers, so I’ve never had the chance to specialise, although I’ve often thought about it.”

Now is certainly the time to do so. “With cruise an expanding market, I know the time has come to get into it,” he said.

Martin Hay

Homeworker, GoCruise, Ribble Valley, Blackburn, Lancashire

Cruise sales (% of overall business): 100%
Number of staff: Homeworker
Type of business: Franchise
Cruise sales target increase for 2008: 400% by the year-end

Less than a year ago Martin Hay jumped ship after 20 years in senior roles in banking and insurance. Now he operates under the Fred Olsen Travel GoCruise banner.

He’s not short of personal cruise experience having been on 16 cruises, on 15 ships with nine cruiselines in the past 10 years.

“I get a buzz exploring a new client’s requests and sourcing or creating a bespoke solution that satisfies their needs.”

Tracy McFall

Business proprietor, franchise for Accessible Travel and Leisure, Bristol South

Cruise sales (% of overall business): 0%
Number of staff: Homeworker
Type of business: Franchise
Cruise sales target increase for 2008: As much as possible

Tracy McFall received her training only last November from Accessible Travel and Leisure after buying its Bristol South franchise. The company specialises in travel for customers with disabilities – something Tracy knows all about, being disabled herself.

“I’ve booked holidays for years for myself, my family and friends as travel agents did not have the information I needed regarding special requirements – such as accommodation – for a disabled person,” Tracy said.

“I am attracted to cruises because most are accessible not only those with mobility problems, but those with visual and hearing impairments.”

Holly Warner

Partner, Holly-days Travel Shop, Folkestone, Kent

Cruise sales (% of overall business): 20%
Number of staff: Three
Type of business: High street retail shop
Cruise sales target for 2008: 15%-20%

Holly Warner has been studying and working in the travel industry for four years and selling cruises for two. She became partner of Holly-days Travel Shop last November.

The biggest challenges for Holly are: “Competition in the market, keeping up-to-date with offers and deals, advertising service rather than price.”

Holly has been on two cruises, but wants to go on more. “I love everything about cruising, especially waking up in a new destination. You get to see so much of the world without having to unpack and pack your suitcase,” she said.

Sandra Lines

Director, Knowle Travel, Solihull

Cruise sales (% of overall business): 50%
Number of staff: Six
Type of business: High- street retail
Cruise sales target increase for 2008: As much as possible

Sandra became a director of Knowle Travel 24 years ago. Operating with six staff from one outlet three miles from Solihull, the agency is part of Midconsort.

Sandra believes there will always be people who want to book through an agent – particularly at the top end of the market.

“The cruise experience can be a overwhelming for first-timers, which makes an agent’s knowledge more important. “When you know the ships and the customers and get to know what they are like, you can match the two,” she said.