Travelmarvel Hosts Inaugural River Cruise Advisory Panel

On 18 June, Travelmarvel – the premium river cruise and escorted touring brand of APT Travel Group – hosted the inaugural meeting of its newly established River Cruise Advisory Panel in Dublin. Bringing together key partners and leading voices from the Irish travel and cruise industry, the panel served as a collaborative forum for key partners and respected voices among the cruise industry to share insights, exchange best practices, and explore opportunities to grow awareness of river cruising among Irish travellers.

Attendees included representatives from tour operators, travel consortia, independent agencies and cruise specialists, all united by a shared commitment to supporting the continued growth of the river cruise sector in Ireland.

Michelle Ryan, Travelmarvel Country Manager, and Brad Bennetts, Head of Sales & Business Development, welcomed Caroline O’Toole (JWT Cruises), Celine McGibney (Travel Escapes), Claire Doherty (The Travel Department), Dominic Burke (Travel Centres) and Maura Fahy (Fahy Travel and Cruise Worldwide) to an engaging and productive lunch at The Grayson.

The discussion generated a wealth of ideas and valuable insights, which will help shape future initiatives aimed at growing awareness of river cruising and supporting the wider travel industry. As the first in a series of planned meetings, the Advisory Panel marks the beginning of an ongoing Travelmarvel-led initiative designed to foster further collaboration and share expertise with the long-term goal of driving growth within the sector.

Brad Bennetts, Head of Sales for UK & Europe, said: “We’ve seen strong growth in the Irish market since launching Travelmarvel in 2022, and we’re committed to working closely with our trade partners to build on that momentum. Bringing together such a knowledgeable group of industry professionals gives us invaluable insight into the needs of Irish travellers and the opportunities that exist for river cruising. The enthusiasm, expertise and collaboration around the table reaffirmed the importance of partnership in driving future growth, and we’re grateful for the continued support of our valued travel trade partners.”

Michelle Ryan, Country Manager for Ireland, said: “The Irish travel trade plays a vital role in the success of our business, and initiatives such as the River Cruise Advisory Panel allow us to maintain meaningful dialogue with our partners. These conversations help us better understand the market, share ideas and work together to create new opportunities for growth. We’re looking forward to continuing the discussion through future panel meetings and welcoming additional industry partners who would like to get involved.”

Celine Kenny, General Manager, Travel Escapes / Cruisescapes added, “I was delighted to be asked to take part in this initiative on behalf of Travel Escapes, as river cruise has long been a core focus of our brand. It was great to have the opportunity to hear other agents’ views and share our experiences in a mutually beneficial setting. I think it’s a great idea to have something like this so we can all help make the river cruise market grow.”

Those interested in joining Travelmarvel’s next River Cruise Advisory Panel should contact michelle.ryan@apttravelgroup.com