Speaking to TTG, Bernie Carter, the luxury expedition line’s international sales lead, heralded 2025 the “year of the travel agent” as he laid out the line’s aims.
"Now we’ve got everything up and running, it’s time to expand with the trade,” he said. “We’ve been building the infrastructure for a year now – we believe 2025 can be the year of the travel agent.
"And we think Atlas will be supported heavily by the trade when they see our value for money offering.”
Atlas will host 200 agents – up from 100 last year – at ship visits in London, Liverpool and Glasgow this summer. Details will be announced on the line’s Facebook page later this month.
Trade roadshows, meanwhile, will take place in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow. “Last year, we were targeting consumers – this year we’re focusing on the agent," said Carter. "We’re hoping next year agents will bring their consumers to these events."
Carter revealed he wants to make 400 agents “aware” of the brand in 2025. “If we can achieve that, it will put us in a much stronger position in 2026,” he explained.
He also confirmed he was having commercial discussions with Hays Travel, Travel Counsellors and the Advantage Travel Partnership to extend Atlas’s “reach” in the UK.
However, he explained agencies planning to become an Atlas trade partner should book via the line’s principal sales agent, The Cruise Line. "The Cruise Line has the bonding, which makes it much easier for the travel agent," he said. "They can then concentrate on the art of selling to their customers."
Carter said trade partners would soon get access to "a dozen" sailings they can promote to clients at an "exclusive price point".
