Aussie on line cruising icon – eCrusing opens regional centre in Hong Kong

Australia’s pioneering and now premier world-wide, on-line cruise booking agency, ecruising, has announced the opening if a Regional Centre for Asia Pacific in Hong Kong, and at the same time announced plans to make lower-cost on-line cruise holidaying a reality for those of the Asia region for whom its previously been little more than a dream.

Last night over 120 distinguish guests including no less than 10 Consulate Generals, heads of government and trade attended the opening ceremony at the prestigious American Club on 49th Floor in Central Hong Kong.

ecruising’s Founder and Chairman, Brett Dudley has moved from the company’s Sydney headquarters to head-up the new Hong Kong operation, having created ecruising in Australia in January 2000 with a staff of just two.

Today ecruising employs twenty-two in Sydney and Mr Dudley says he expects to see the same staff growth within the Hong Kong operation, but within a much shorter time-frame.

“Cruise holidaying is a boom industry world-wide, and in Asia alone is growing at close to sixty per cent a year.”  “The new Kai Tak Cruise Terminal that is due to open by 2013 will see a massive growth in cruise liners visiting here both for short- and long-term seasonal, and for year-round cruising,” he said.

“Several international cruise lines now have offices in Hong Kong and with them now also basing ships here, when we looked at expansion beyond Australia, Hong Kong stood out as having the greatest potential for our new regional headquarters: we were assured of a high level of government support here, there is tax structure, worldwide geographical location, and there is the ease of doing business in Hong Kong.”

“We will use the same successful business model we have in Australia to sell affordable, cost-effective on-line cruise holidays on ships out of Hong Kong, and out of this market-place as well to parts of the world for holidaymakers for whom fly/cruising has previously been beyond imagination,” Mr Dudley said.

“We pioneered the concept of quality, price-affordable on-line cruise and fly/cruise holidaying in Australia, and with Asia’s ‘new generation’ cruise-goers who are also computer-savvy, we now see the same huge rate of growth in this market here that we’ve enjoyed in Australia.”

Mr Dudley attributes ecruising’s success to its high level of professionalism, a commitment to exceeding expectations, and dedicating itself to selling just one product – cruise holidaying.

“We began modestly in 2000, but today we own the entire floor of a Sydney CBD high-rise, we have no debts or loans and we are in a very strong financial position.“

“We are regular recipients of awards and commendations from the world’s top cruise lines including Cunard, P&O and NCL, as well as airlines and hotels, and we have been named ‘Best Online Agent Asia Pacific 2007’ by Italy’s Costa Cruises.”

Mr Dudley said ecruising’s new Hong Kong operation had already been appointed Preferred Sales Agent in the region for Costa Cruises, Star Cruises, NCL and Viking River Cruises, and Regional Representative for Australia’s Orion Expedition Cruises.

In addition, just this week it was appointed Hong Kong’s first-ever sales agency for the world’s most highly-rated boutique mega motor-cruisers, SeaDream I and SeaDream II that carry just 55 couples served by 95 crew in the Mediterranean and Caribbean, and which has just topped the Berlitz Cruise Guide’s Five Star Club, winning out over a field of twenty contenders.

Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK, Mr Mark Michelson, welcomed the company’s presence in Hong Kong, saying, â€œWe are very pleased that ecruising has come to Hong Kong, especially since tourism is one of the pillar industries of our city.”  “Your company joins some 3,900 international companies doing business in Asia Pacific that have established regional operations in Hong Kong.”  “ecruising’s decision to establish its regional headquarters here signifies a vote of confidence in our city’s business environment and future economic development.”

Mr Michelson presented Mr Dudley with a gift from Invest Hong Kong.

Ingram, Director of the Australian Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong welcomed Mr Dudley and ecruising Asia Pacific to Hong Kong. Ingram said ecruising’s innovation was a welcome addition to the way Hong Kong people could buy a cruise holiday dismissing that Hong Kong do not use the internet to shop and buy.

He went on to to say even the invitation was an example of how ecruising went about things.

Mr Michelson, Mr Dudley and Mr Ingram cut the ribbon to officially open ecruising Asia Pacific Limited.

Additionally it has been contracted to fulfil all of travelocity’s (zuji.com.hk) cruise business in Hong Kong, ensuring an immediate and effective kick-start to revenues for the new venture.

ecruising is located in Hollywood Road, Central Hong Kong and can be contacted for information about cruise holiday products here and world-wide by simply visiting www.ecruising.travel/hk or phoning (852) 3711 3238.

A Report by The Mole