Access groups to increase river sales, says Sloan

Special interest groups are key to increasing cruise sales, according to the sales boss of a luxury river cruise line.

Speaking at Clia’s RiverView Conference in Vienna, Angie Sloan, the head of sales for Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, told delegates that tapping into specialist interest groups like wine clubs or history societies was a way of generating larger bookings.

“Groups is key,” she said. “It’s all about finding people in your local vicinity and joining a group so we can help you sell them on that thing.

“The agent can then host the cruise and we might be able to offer them a rate break.

“I know an agent who connected with a wine group and we’ve been able to sell many of them on a Bordeaux cruise.”

She added: “Focus on one itinerary and really learn it. Get training on it, get marketing support and we will help you sell.”