The ExplorEarth platform has been created by former AE Expeditions UK managing director Jos Dewing and Jon Waring; it promotes destinations, ships and cruises, and features a matching-engine which generates booking leads for agents.
So far, Mundy Cruising has joined ExplorEarth, but Dewing hopes to attract at least 20 more agencies “in the next few months”.
However, until now, his and Waring’s focus has been to build the platform’s software rather than bring in agents or suppliers. Dewing plans to launch the platform early next month with nine expedition cruise lines signed up.
Dewing, who has more than 20 years’ industry experience, told TTG: “We wanted to build a platform that really shows how incredible this sector is and increase the number of expedition cruise leads. The plan is to connect new-to-expedition cruise customers with travel agents.
“Expedition and small-ship cruise capacity currently outweighs the demand. Agents and resellers are challenged by a small lead pool, which drives clients’ expectations and operators’ margins down.
“ExplorEarth has been launched to address this problem and significantly grow the global market of expedition and small-ship adventure seekers.”
Dewing, who left AE Expeditions to set up ExplorEarth in February, said lines often found it hard to allocate marketing budgets to “bring the customers in”. “I wanted to create something that increases this lead pool," he said.
Only customers who want to book through the trade will be connected to travel agents, Dewing explained. However, he added: “I think there is going to be a higher proportion of agent sales as opposed to direct.”
Dewing insisted agents and operators on the platform would work “collaboratively”. “The industry has been built by operators working closely with agents," he added. "Our platform is just another way of enhancing that relationship."
He urged agencies and expedition cruise lines which want to join the platform to email ExplorEarth at hello@explorearth.com.
Alex Loizou, Mundy Cruising director of sales, marketing and operations, said: “We’re thrilled that we can be involved in this unique and much-needed media brand that we’re confident will capitalise on the lack of focus that expedition cruising gets in much of the media.
“With a clear vision to inspire and educate [ExplorEarth’s] aims align strongly with that of our Mundy Adventures brand and the partners that we work with. We’re certain it will be a huge success.”
Currently, the ExplorEarth team stands at eight, but Dewing aims to recruit for a marketing role soon.
