Travelmarvel enters new phase of growth

APT has announced an internal restructure that will see its premium value cruise and touring brand, Travelmarvel, serviced by its own distinct business unit. The move follows a strong year of growth for Travelmarvel which over the past twelve months has performed extremely well, achieving over 100 percent growth in forward sales, appealing to new guests by offering premium four star travel experiences at exceptional value. The business unit will be headed up by David Cox who will move from his role as APT’s Chief Operations Officer to take up the position as General Manager for Travelmarvel. David brings 29 years of travel industry experience to the role, having held various positions within APT and at AAT Kings. He will be supported by a dedicated 12-strong team comprising product, sales and marketing. Commenting on his new role, David said, “Travelmarvel has had an outstanding year, enjoying rapid growth. That’s because it is offers the right balance of inclusions, sightseeing and freedom for guests to experience the destination in their own way, with quality, exceptional service, knowledgeable staff and operational expertise. By combining these positive attributes and then retailing them at a competitive price point, Travelmarvel offers a holiday experience that both guests and agents have been looking for.” “Establishing a stand-alone Travelmarvel business unit enables us to give the brand the support it needs to reach its full potential. We recognise that our trade partners are central to our ongoing success and we are launching a full travel agent incentive program as our first priority,” he concluded. Also joining the new Travelmarvel team in the newly created role of Sales and Marketing Manager is Saxon Templeton. Previously Marketing Manager, Flight Centre Victoria and Tasmania, Saxon has a breadth of travel industry knowledge, having also held sales, product and marketing roles at Peregrine and Contiki. The immediate focus of the new team is to work closely with travel agents to provide product training and support as Travelmarvel has rapid product expansion high on its list of priorities. Russia and Africa are the most recent new destinations to join the portfolio and China will also launch this year. Commenting on the new structure, APT CEO Chris Hall said, “While APT continues to be our market leading luxury cruise and tour offering, we’ve been experiencing an impressive growth phase with our Travelmarvel brand and the time is right to support and nurture this opportunity through its own distinct management team. By expanding our team in line with our product range we hope to capture a significant share of the marketplace, transforming Travelmarvel into another exciting pillar to APT’s group business.”