The brands confirmed the two TV ads – one promoting its core European river cruise products and the other showcasing APT’s new Mekong-based ship – will air across Sky AdSmart and daytime satellite channels.

 
It is hoped the ads increase the reach of APT’s and Travelmarvel’s Worldwide Sale, which launches today (18 December) and runs until 29 February.

The sale includes savings of up to 50%. 

“Agents will be perfectly equipped to optimise sales during travel’s key booking period,” the brands said. 

APT is recruiting for a national sales manager to further support its key trade accounts following a massive recruitment drive across the company. 

In the past six months, the brands’ UK teams have grown by 30%. 

Brad Bennetts, head of sales and business development, said: “We are confident that the aggressive savings on offer and wide-reaching marketing activity will create an open goal for our agent partners, so they can maximise their sales opportunities at this most commercially significant time of the year.”

He added that the combination of expanded TV advertising, “heavy investment into direct and digital marketing” and trade sales tools means the brands can “inspire prospective customers on a massive scale”.

“This will allow us to reach new audiences, raise the profile of river cruising, and showcase why this is an unbeatable way to holiday,” Bennetts continued. 

“As part of our ongoing commitment to agents, all our consumer activity and investment into TV advertising is designed to inspire and create warm leads, then steer the resultant booking opportunities directly to the trade.”