Downs back up on his feet
BICTON Travel’s former National Sales & Promotions Manager Barry Downs has returned to the travel industry, taking up a new role with Hunter Travel as General Manager Marketing & Product.
A highly experienced cruise professional, Downs is the voice behind the Big Cruise Podcast, which recently published its 100th episode.
Hunter Chief Executive Brett Dean told travelBulletin the move aimed to keep the group at the forefront of the travel industry’s recovery.
Angell floats on CLIA cloud
NORWEGIAN Cruise Line Vice President & Managing Director Asia-Pacific Ben Angell has been elected as Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA) local Chair.
The appointment comes after the conclusion of former Chair Gavin Smith’s two-year term, with Angell elected at CLIA’s annual general meeting in Sydney last month.
CLIA’s local Managing Director Joel Katz described Angell as an “accomplished industry leader who would offer invaluable experience at a time when the cruise sector was working to establish a new course for its future”.
Oceania selling strongly
THE release day of Oceania Cruises’ 2024 Collection ranked among the best 24-hour booking periods in the line’s history, with almost two-thirds of the staterooms aboard the 35-day circumnavigation of Australia already sold.
All of the 2023 and 2024 bookings from the collection are new cash reservations, with no dilution from future cruise credits.
Oceania said it continues to see “strong demand from new-to-brand guests”.
