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Apollo to buy Regent Seven Seas
Carlson’s Regent Seven Seas Cruises is to be sold to Prestige Cruise Holdings’ owners, Apollo, for an undisclosed sum.
The acquisition, subject to regulatory approval, is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2008.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises will be placed under the ownership of Prestige, while NCL Corporation will remain a separate holding.
Apollo said Regent Seven Seas will remain a wholly independent brand under the guidance of Mark Conroy, president of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and will continue to operate from its Fort Lauderdale.
Oceania Cruises will remain in its Miami headquarters, headed by Bob Binder, president of Oceania Cruises
Both Binder and Conroy will report directly to Prestige chairman and CEO Frank Del Rio.
Carlson will retain ownership of the master Regent brand, along with the worldwide operations of Regent Hotels & Resorts.
“Through this proposed investment, Apollo has demonstrated its deep commitment to the Regent brand and the continuing growth of the Regent cruise line fleet,” said Carlson chairman and CEO Marilyn Carlson Nelson.
“As owners of the Regent brand, we remain committed to expanding its scope and success both on land and at sea. We are confident the Regent cruise brand will continue to develop along with and lead the industry segment, which has expanded dramatically since 1992, when we launched our first ship. The potential for continued expansion of the luxury Regent hotel brand, and our entire hotel portfolio, is enormous.”
Apollo partner Steve Martinez added: “We look forward to the growth opportunities this addition offers consumers, travel agents and the team members at both Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises.” Carlson has named Bjorn Gullaksen as president Regent Luxury Group.
He most recently served as executive vice president for Carlson Hotels Worldwide Managed Hotels & Resorts in the Americas.
He will continue to oversee the managed hotel and resort operations in his new role.
Under Gullaksen, a brand council will oversee the Regent brand with leadership from the cruise company and Carlson Hotels Worldwide.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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