Silversea lures incentives

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REDFERN: all inclusive mini-cruises can make financial sense for meetings planners.

Arabic-speaking sales manager to take care of local organizers.

Luxury cruise operator Silversea Cruises has employed an Arabic speaking sales manager in its London office to target corporate meeting and incentive planners in the Middle East.

The sales agent will be on hand to talk to corporate bookers directly, or through corporate travel firms whose Arabic speaking clients want to talk with a Silversea agent directly.

Small meetings, incentives groups and larger conferences at sea involving full ship charters account for 17-20% of the company's business, according to Trudy Redfern, senior vice president sales and marketing, UK, Ireland & Middle East Markets.

"There are a lot of major international corporations based in the Middle East from all sectors; pharmaceutical, engineering, finance, etc," she explained.

"Companies that are based here might want to do a three- or four-day trip; a short meeting that could start in Dubai. It is probably more convenient for meetings and incentives to start from a home port."

Redfern emphasises the financial savings that groups can make by holding their event on board a cruise: "From a budgetary standpoint everything is included - they don't have to worry about the additional costs and they haven't got to worry about taking people off site to give them a different dining experience," she said.

"If they wanted to combine part of the meeting and incentive with a bit of touring they have got that option as well. Usually the ship would be in different places every day, so it's a great combination."

Groups may use the onboard theatre and other rooms for their events for no extra cost, she added.

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