02 July 2008

Hurtigruten boosts capacity and targets trade

Hurtigruten has introduced its Northern Lights programme and doubled its capacity for winter 2008/9.

The programme will feature a new range of itineraries with lead in prices from Ã&#pound;395 and the company says it is hoping the trade Ã¢â¬Åâœwill play a key roleÃ¢â¬~ in generating demand for the programme.

Said head of commercial Kathryn Beadle: Ã¢â¬ÅâœThis is our most ambitious programme to date with more departures and itineraries than ever before for agents to promote. The brochure includes a DVD which I hope agents will utilise to show customers just what they can expect and what an amazing experience it is. We continue to appreciate the importance of training for agents and our Ã¢â¬ËœSeminars at SeaÃ¢â¬â¢ programme will continue into the winter months allowing us to take agents away to experience our product at first hand.Ã¢â¬~

The cruiseline is also inviting agents to contact them with advertising and promotional ideas. It says all suggestions will be welcomed and could be funded on a 50/50 basis. The operator has sent an advertising booking form to all ABTA agents to complete and return with their promotional requests.

Hurtigruten will also focus on the groups market, offering the 11^th passenger free travel on group bookings so agents can offer this to large parties or simply lower the group price.

Said Beadle: Ã¢â¬ÅâœWe are seeing more and more agents taking allocations and putting together their own groups. This is a lucrative market for them and with no single supplements offered on many of our Northern Lights voyages they are very appealing to the groups market. To cope with demand we have an additional member of staff joining our groups team shortly.Ã¢â¬~

New products include Hunting the Lights for those sailing northwards between BodÃƒ~¸ and Kirkenes, an extended winter snowmobile safari that includes a two night stay in the new Spitsbergen Expedition Lodge in Brentskardet, a Lofoten Viking feast at the Lofoten Viking Museum at Borg and the Lapland Adventure which combines a trip from TromsÃƒ~¸ to Kirkenes with a two night trip to Inari in the north of Finland.

By Dinah Hatch