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River Cruise Line creates new manager role
The River Cruise Line has appointed Mark Riddle as sales and business development manager.
He will continue to hold the same role for parent company Arena Travel.
Arena bought The River Cruise Line and Diamond Rail Holidays in March.
They were both part of Market Harborough-based Diamond Shortbreak Holidays, which ceased trading due to financial difficulties.
Starting on June 1, Riddle will be on the road nationwide, building on existing partnerships with independent agents and developing new relationships with those who are new to selling river cruising.
Tim Fleming will continue to be responsible for relationships with multiple agents and both will also be tasked with growing trade support for Arena Rail Holidays, formerly Diamond Rail.
Arena Travel managing director Steve Goodenough said: "We have been delighted that the first cruises of the season all departed as planned and that feedback from those travelling with us has been excellent.
"To date 67% of bookings have been retained and we understand that some are still being processed, so expect the eventual total to be around 75%.
"The addition of Mark to The River Cruise Line team comes at an important time as we prepare to launch the 2018 programme later this month.
"Although we are looking ahead to next year, our focus is very much on delivering the 2017 sailing programme as originally planned and Mark’s role will be crucial in offering reassurance to our trade partners, as well as driving interest from new agents in both the river cruise and rail products."
Before joining Arena Travel’s head office, Riddle spent 10 years at Newmarket Holidays as retail sales manager. He also spent time handling retail sales for Oxford-based Transun.
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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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