Signature Travel Network has plugged a hole in its offering to travel agencies in Australia and New Zealand by launching a new luxury River and Ocean cruise program, LATTE can reveal. Spearheaded by Lisa Harrison, the recently appointed ANZ Managing Director, the cruise program offers exclusive amenities and competitive pricing to better service members.

Signature Travel Network launched the Australia International Affiliates program in 2015 when Platinum Travel Group joined the US-based consortia. That program has continued to evolve over time. Harrison’s appointment in March, revealed first by LATTE, has provided current members with more agency engagement opportunities. The former Magellan executive has also been tasked to grow membership throughout the region.

The new River and Ocean cruise program will provide travellers on select sailings with generous Shipboard Credits, Private Car and Guide Tours, Pre or Post night hotel stays, Prepaid Gratuities and the services of an experienced host as well as special events onboard and in select ports.

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Travel advisors will also benefit from enhanced commissions on select sailings, along with access to Sig Cruise Pro, Signature’s customised booking engine.

Participating launch cruise partners include AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, Azamara, Crystal, Explora Journeys, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn, Silversea, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises and Windstar Cruises. Other cruise partners are expected to join in the future. In the US, Signature has more than 30 cruise partners.

“We’re thrilled about our growth in the Australia and New Zealand markets and expanding our benefits with a luxury cruise program is an excellent next step,” said Alex Sharpe, CEO and President of Signature Travel Network.

“Building strong preferred partnerships that deliver a differentiated travel experience is a core component of Signature’s mission, and I am excited that our new luxury cruise program for agencies in this region provides the benefits that advisors and affluent travellers want and need.”

In May last year, Sharpe revealed to LATTE his vision to launch a cruise solution to the ANZ market, at the time saying it would be a “relatively simple task to pull off.”

Signature’s new cruise program complements the benefits enjoyed by all International Affiliates, which include:

• Signature’s Hotels & Resorts Collection of nearly 1,300 of the world’s finest hotels, resorts, lodges, safari camps and unique places to stay offering exclusive Signature privileges.
• Access to more than 90 Destination Specialists that offer customised holidays with behind-the-scenes tours and early access in more than 120 countries on six continents.
• Invitation to attend Signature’s Annual Conference where more than 900 preferred partners come together with more than 2,000 advisors for business-building networking and training opportunities.

Andy Buerckner, CEO, Platinum Travel Group, said “I have a firm belief that people make the product. Signature epitomises this statement! The client experience and benefits are second to none, but it’s the cross-border relationships and family culture that underpins the success of our longstanding partnership.”

Troy Coelho from TravelManagers adds, “Our network of personal travel managers is thrilled with our decision to join the Signature Travel Network in early 2022. They receive exceptional feedback from their clients and appreciate that each hotel within the program has a dedicated Signature contact. This ensures that our personal travel managers can directly connect with the right person at each hotel, guaranteeing that their clients are treated like the VIPs they truly are.”

Learn more about Signature Travel Network at JoinSignatureTravelNetwork.com.