As we wrote about Thursday, Royal Caribbean's fourth-quarter numbers dipped precipitously, as the dire economy, which seems to get worse every day, pummeled the cruise company, causing its earnings to drop some 98 percent from the same time a year ago. Still, in the face of growing challenges and adversity, Royal Caribbean's executive team, led by Chairman and CEO Richard Fain, made it abundantly clear how important travel agents remain to the life and success of their business.
On Friday, luxury travel network Virtuoso came out in support of Royal Caribbean for its commitment to travel agents, even in the face of mounting economic concerns.
"We at Virtuoso would like to extend our thanks to the executive team at Royal Caribbean International, who, during their Q4 earnings call, reinforced their belief in the value of the travel agency community," said Matthew Upchurch, CEO of Virtuoso. "At a time when advisors and suppliers are clearly dependent on each other for mutual success, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara recognize that remaining true to their largest sales channel is a sound financial and strategic decision. We share their commitment to the superior client experience.
"We appreciate Royal Caribbean’s recognition of this downturn as part of the larger economic crisis, and that travel agencies will play a key role in the continued growth and success of their brands," he added. "We look forward to continuing our long and productive relationship, and working together to get through the challenges our industry are currently facing."