VIRGIN Voyages (VV) has revealed it is ramping up its focus on the Australian market, and has welcomed on board new business development manager Pamela Nielsen, who previously worked on the account at Travel the World (CW breaking news). In addition, the line is looking for a new head of...
VIRGIN Voyages (VV) has revealed it is ramping up its focus on the Australian market, and has welcomed on board new business development manager Pamela Nielsen, who previously worked on the account at Travel the World (CW breaking news).
In addition, the line is looking for a new head of sales for Australia, SVP of growth Stephen Hopkins revealed in an interview with Cruise Weekly yesterday.
The recruitment drive is part of Virgin Voyages’ reinvestment in the local market, which also includes resolving the technical and reward issues that the trade has experienced in recent years, he said.
“We know there have been issues in doing business with us, with some of our commission structures and how payments have worked,” Hopkins explained, adding that the issues will be ironed out in the next quarter.
Meanwhile, VV has also changed up its deployment, which will suit Australians’ travel needs, said Hopkins.
On Mon, Brilliant Lady will sail out of LA for the first time, with 20 other sailings available, followed by a season in Alaska.
“Both of those itineraries are perfect for Australian consumers, something that we know is of high demand,” Hopkins enthused.
Before VV pulled its hardware out of Australia two years ago (CW 27 Feb 2024), Resilient Lady was homeported here.
There are currently no plans to homeport in Australia again, although Hopkins said that the line is “always looking at options”.
However, VV’s newer ship, Brilliant Lady, is capable of sailing in the region in a different way, VP of marketing and digital innovation Billy Bohan told CW.
“Now that Brilliant Lady can go through the Panama Canal, she can unlock incredible itineraries in Japan, China, Singapore, so you have a whole new world of opportunity,” Bohan said.
“But as any travel partner will know, planning the logistics of voyages like that takes many years…obviously we’re willing to invest, but we haven’t had the opportunity to [return] yet.
“What I will say is that Australia is near and dear to our hearts…so having the opportunity to bring the ship back here would be a dream…we just have to make sure that it’s the right time,” he added. JHM
Pictured: Bohan & Hopkins with director of sales Matt Lebbern.
