The line will look to bring in four new hires in 2023 – which it anticipates will be regionally-based, with two office-based and two field-based – who will support agents with training, contact centre enquiries and in-person visits.

Speaking to TTG onboard new ship Arvia on Friday (6 January), P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said the recruitment drive "shows our commitment to the trade". 

"We really want to support our travel agent partners, so this team expansion of four additional heads in 2023 – who we are recruiting for right now – will continue to help us support the trade," said Ludlow.

Ludlow continued: "Agents, of course, want phone support, and occasionally they will want ship visits, but we’re also learning now they may want webinars, training on-demand, live chat and specialist contact centre teams to support their enquiries."

As a result, Ludlow said P&O Cruises’ sales team must become "multi-dimensional" to meet the evolving needs of its trade partners. "That investment in those extra four heads enables us to really respond across all of those channels," he stressed.

Ludlow also said the line would unveil the dates for Arvia and Iona’s trade ship visit programmes in February, giving agents fresh opportunities to get onboard the two new vessels.

It comes after Ludlow reassured agents the "teething problems" guests experienced during Arvia’s inaugural sailing over the Christmas period have been rectified ahead of the vessel’s maiden season in the Caribbean.