| Apollo backs Trafalgar

TRAFALGAR’S extension into river cruising is a possibility brought about thanks to The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) new owner Apollo Global Management, deputy chief exec Melissa DaSilva believes.

The funds required to extend a second TTC brand into river cruising would not have been available under the ownership of the Tollman family, DaSilva (pictured right with TTC head of marketing Mia Hamzic) told Cruise Weekly on board Trafalgar’s first-ever river cruise last week (CW 13 Apr).

DaSilva pointed to the opportunity for investment as the biggest change since the takeover by Apollo.

“There’s no way that we would have been able to take this leap under previous ownership,” the TTC head said.

“Having the data to back up the business cases allows us to really tap into those funds and to have a much longer-term view, as well as to recuperate those funds…it doesn’t have to be in a 12-month period,” DaSilva explained.

“There’s an appetite for growth and an appetite for volume that is more easily attained by building out the opportunity for us to have more ships.”

This outlook also afforded Trafalgar the opportunity to invest in the ships it acquired from sister brand Uniworld Boutique River Cruises.

Trafalgar River Cruises vice president Damien O’Connor said the cruise line is exploring a further refurbishment for the ships’ interiors, including its inaugural flagship Trafalgar Verity, which could happen as soon as next year. MS