Portman Travel targets cruise staff with marine division
Independent travel management company Portman Travel has opened a marine division.
The launch of Portman Marine follows the acquisition of P&O Travel last October.
The new division will concentrate on serviing vessel owners, ship managers, the oil and gas industry and other marine-related companies, particularly those in the cruise sector.
Portman Marine’s clients include Gardline Geosurveys and London Ship Managers, with new client wins expected to be announced in the coming months.
Based in London, the division will be supported by sales offices in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Southampton, Liverpool, Heathrow, and other locations around the UK.
Portman Marine general manager Denis Woodard, said: “Increasingly the whole shipping business is global, with crew and offshore workers being recruited from all over the world, so shipping clients want a single provider who can service their needs internationally.
“Cruise travel, especially, is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the marine travel industry. Ships are getting bigger and have more crew, so it’s an obvious growth area for us in the future.”
Portman chief executive Graham Flack added: “We believe that Portman Marine will offer a spread of products and a base of knowledge and experience unrivalled in this industry.
“It will have access to a worldwide network that will allow us to source the best-value tickets available for our clients. This is all about buying smart – providing the quickest and most efficient service, while being flexible and imaginative with our routings to benefit customers. We will continually strive to bring innovative products to the marketplace to meet our customers’ individual needs.”
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps