easyCruise to franchise operation in growth plan
EasyCruise is recruiting a chief executive as it announced it may franchise the concept to other cruise lines and even riverboats.
The company said with 15 ‘easy’ brands, chairman Stelios Haji-Ioannou needs a full-time CEO to manage the business.
A statement issued by the company said the successful candidate will take easyCruise to the next stage of its growth – which could include franchising the operation.
“Now that easyCruise is nearing the end of its first year and the end of its pilot phase, the company is gearing up for growth,” the statement said. “Growth for easyCruise may come in the form of franchising the business to operators of existing cruise ships and possibly riverboats who are willing to invest in converting them to the easyCruise concept.”
But new-build ships were also being considered.
“In the longer term, beyond 2008, easyCruise might itself invest in custom designed new builds which would accommodate 500 passengers,” it said.
A tender document has been circulated to shipyards with negotiations already underway, the company statement added.
In addition, easyCruise said “key lessons have been learned” from initial cruises with more upscale dining likely to be introduced – still on a pay-as-you-go, a la carte basis – along with spas.
Because of what it described as a “warm reception” across the Atlantic, a US base will also be established with possible cruises out of Miami and the Bahamas.
The company said the average age of its passengers was 32 in the Mediterranean and 39 in the Caribbean, where itineraries will continue this winter until April 29.
Report by Steve Jones
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