United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Costa chief: ‘We’re not going direct in UK’
Costa Cruises has announced a change in policy over the weekend and says it will not now be moving to direct sell in the UK.
The company issued a revised statement this morning after Arnold Donald, CEO of Costa parent Carnival Corp & plc was asked about the move by analysts during a Carnival earnings call.
‘Costa is not going direct in the UK,’ he said, adding reports at the end of last week that the cruiseline was going direct must have ‘got lost in translation’.
A short statement this morning announced: "Costa confirms that travel partners in the UK will continue to be able to sell Costa Cruises through the ‘Costa Click’ internet booking engine at an appropriate commission.
"Servicing of the UK trade will take place through the Genova call centre."
Last week, Costa said the direct sales model was ‘the best way to serve the needs of the market’ and said it would go direct by February 2016.
Costa parent Carnival Corp reported 40% increase in full-year earnings for 2015, with fourth-quarter results almost doubling, despite a slight fall in revenues.
Adjusted net income for the year was $2.1 billion, up from $1.5 billion in 2014.
Donald said "This year we achieved a 4.3 percent improvement (constant currency) in revenue yields compared to the prior year due to higher onboard revenues and increased ticket prices as we have driven demand in excess of capacity growth, while our ongoing efforts to leverage our industry-leading scale helped to contain costs."
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
Tony from Gatto’s Pizza on Columbus’s Unique Pizza Trail
Sophia Hyder Hock on Global Social Inclusion in Tourism
Sustainable Tourism: Don Welsh on Community Values and Global Collaboration
Jane Cunningham: Enhancing European Engagement in Tourism
Kristin Dunne: Navigating Destination Strategy
Revolutionizing Mobile Connectivity: Boris Bijlstra on HUBBY eSIM
Capturing Glasgow’s Vibrancy: An Interview with Susan Deighan, Chief Executive of Glasgow Life
Lebua Hotel & Resorts: Rajan Khurana on Hospitality and Bangkok’s Charms
Sustainable Tourism and Growth: Insights from Chiravadee Khunsub from Tourism Authority of Thailand
Revolutionizing Travel: SmartSIM USA’s Dale Takio Unveils the Power of E Sims
TravelMole Interview with Hishan Singhawansa, Deputy CEO of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, Sri Lanka
Unveiling the Essence of Magari Tours: A Dive into Authentic Italian Experiences
Abercrombie & Kent hails $500 million funding boost
British Airways passengers endure 11-hour 'flight to nowhere'
CLIA: Anti-cruise demos could cause itinerary changes in Europe
Gatwick braces for strike
Co-pilot faints, easyJet flight issues ‘red alert’