Cruise1st 'on the attack' with major recruitment drive
Tom ParryCruise1st is on the hunt for 70 new UK staff as it looks to expand following its acquisition earlier this year.
Chief executive Dan Townsley revealed to TTG the business would move into a larger office and has launched another TV channel too.
The web and call centre business will also look to open a second retail store in the south of England between April and June next year after its Salford shop turned over £4.5 million since opening in January.
Townsley said Cruise1st, as a whole, had grown by 45% during the year to date and was targeting another 60% growth in 2019.
The company was acquired by German online travel agent and tour operator Dreamlines in May, marking its first foray into the UK market.
Townsley’s “aggressive” growth plans will see the business open seven shops over the next three years.
“We’re on the attack and know where we can take market share,” he told TTG. “Since the buyout, it has been mind-blowing to work with Dreamlines and see their approach – the business intelligence they have is incredible.”
'There is so much more to come from us'
Cruise1st’s recruitment drive includes 50 new sales staff this year and plans for a further 50 in 2019.
It is also hiring for positions in its product and marketing departments, while other roles include HR and customer relationship managers, as well as a senior product manager.
“We want to expand our river product, and we’re close to signing our first full charter in Asia,” said Townsley.
He described how the business was also developing its own training programme for new starters.
Townsley added how he expected a large number of newcomers to be homeworkers and so aimed to build an on-the-road sales team to manage and support external staff.
Meanwhile, new TV channel TV Cruise Channel (Sky 199) is broadcasting “more editorially led” content, with sales driven by TV accounting for 30% of business.
On top of its UK growth plans, Cruise1st is also looking to recruit a managing director for its business in Singapore and 40 sales staff for its Australia operation.
“It has been a crazily busy time, but so exciting and there is so much more to come from us,” Townsley added.
Tom Parry
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