CEO Today - July 2022

Navigating the waters and launching a brand during the pandemic of course came with many hurdles, however, our vision to enter the luxury market was clear long before. We are fortunate to be a family-owned and operated business, which is an element of differentiation, with an unwavering commitment to the tune of a €2bn initial investment in our first four ships. I was challenged with building a team remotely during lockdown, facilitated by a key hire pre-pandemic of our Chief Technology Officer – Teams became our ‘virtual office.’ This was certainly interesting and required a great sense of togetherness. The pandemic enabled us to closely monitor and analyse the industry and react accordingly. It also gave us the chance to pause and understand what really matters to our guests on a deeper, emotional level, which is important for us. As a result, there are many lessons that have been applied to the inner workings of our brand, and our ships will offer ample space and privacy that has now become the expectation from a ship or luxury resort. On EXPLORA I, our suites, penthouses, and residences are all oceanfront and present some of the largest accommodation in the luxury category, with suites starting from 35sqm up to a 280sqm Owner’s Residence creating a true sense of a Home at Sea. The pandemic amplified this need for space and privacy and triggered a renewed appetite to travel and discover new experiences. The pandemic also resulted in constantly changing rules and restrictions for travellers to navigate. We have seen that uncertainty is causing clients to book at shorter notice rather than with a typical 12–18-month lead time. The travel adviser community, which was severely affected during the pandemic, have always been at the centre of our go-to Explora Journeys is a new luxury lifestyle travel brand with a unique proposition to connect the next generation of discerning luxury travellers with the ocean, themselves, and their environments. “ “

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