Expedia CruiseShipCenters reported 2008 sales of more than $300 million and expects 2009 sales to top $350 million.
“February bookings were up 30 percent over last year,” said Michael Drever, CEO and founder of Expedia CruiseShipCenters. “Clearly customers are taking advantage of the incredible value that cruise vacations offer. Our agents take pride in knowing the product and are experts at matching the right cruise to the customer’s idea of a dream vacation.”
“It’s exciting to be part of a young and growing industry,” says Geraldine Ree, senior vice president of sales and marketing. “Last year, more ships than ever were cruising Europe, Australia, Asia and South America and there’s a growing interest in river cruises and the luxury market.”
According to Ree, a 20 percent increase in the Expedia CruiseShipCenters marketing budget will help ensure the company continues to reap the lion’s share of the cruise market. “Nine out of 10 people who try a cruise vacation for the first time say they will cruise again," she said. "Our job is to be experts at determining what kind of vacation experience they are looking for and to match the customer to the right ship."
Visit www.cruiseshipcenters.com.