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Compagnie du Ponant, the French flag
destinational luxury cruise line, says it has announced record growth of 50% for
January-May 2014 compared to the same period last year, the month of May being
particularly exceptional with more than 2,200 passengers booked.
“After strong growth in 2013, with revenue topping €100 million for 20,000
passengers, and the launch of a fourth yacht, Le Soleal , 2014 looks set to be
another very promising year: the number of bookings in the first five months
alone have accelerated, up 50% year-on-year,” the company said in a statement.
“This spectacular growth is explained by the success of Compagnie du Ponant’s
offer on both the French and international markets and the leverage gained from
two other factors:
An expanded portfolio of original cruise destinations linked with the arrival of
a fifth ship Le Lyrial in the Spring of 2015. Having developed its business in
Asia, South America and North Europe, Compagnie du Ponant launched into Oceania
for the 2014/2015 Winter season (Australia, New Zealand) and now Alaska for
2015.
Forward bookings, with sales for 2015 cruises having been launched mid-April
2014, six months ahead of the traditional calendar.
“Compagnie du Ponant has achieved excellent results for the first half of 2014
thanks to all the investments made over the last two years and deployment of a
forward bookings strategy. The figures underpin the performance of our business
model after 25 years of hard work,” says Jean-Emmanuel Sauvée, Compagnie du
Ponant’s CEO.
To support its expansion and meet the needs and expectations of travel agents, a
priority sales route for Compagnie du Ponant, the company invested in major
changes to its sales department, starting last year. These included:
· Consolidation of onshore teams and a Call Centre set up with promotions in
January 2014, with Nicolas Bilek appointed Sales Director West Europe and Cyril
Dupin as Sales Director France, Belgium and Switzerland. The international team
also saw its workforce doubled in a move that included the appointment of two
new sales people, Geoffrey Duval for the Ile de France department (Paris region)
and one focused on Belgium.
· Reorganisation of the Reservations department into desks focused on particular
regions and types of cruises, and again staff numbers have doubled.
· More staff to boost the Marketing team led by Agnès Mossina, Marketing
Director, with three appointments including one to head up Digital Strategy and
another responsible for Web Marketing.
“We have launched numerous projects over the last few months that are now
bearing fruit in 2014, including a more aggressive fares policy, digital media
strategy, systems revamp, investments in our relationship with travel agencies,
etc. And we have other projects in the pipeline which will be unveiled in
September 2014 at Top Resa,” says Hervé Bellaïche, who was appointed Sales &
Marketing Director of Compagnie du Ponant in 2013.
Since it launched in 1988, Compagnie du Ponant has successfully built-up a loyal
client base attracted by its four intimate cruise yachts, all flying the French
flag and embodying the essence of being on a private luxury yacht.
Worldwide Cruise Associate recently signed a marketing Agreement
with Compagnie du Ponant to promote the campany and their ships to the US
Corporate market. This is somewhat dejavue as Worldwide was the Company's
first corporate partner when the they started with their very first ship. - Le
Ponant. |
