Cruise MICE sector on the rise – P&O
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P&O Cruises has reported a surge in demand for meetings and conferences following the launch of its new MICE division.
The company launched P&O Conferences in February 2015, and said it has experienced a doubling of MICE inquiries in the first quarter of the year, and a 60% rise in bookings.
“We’ve been absolutely overwhelmed with the response to our launch,” said P&O Conferences’ senior sales manager, Rebecca Mutanen. “It seems there’s a real appetite among meeting organisers for something different, and our latest ships and our short itineraries are hitting the mark with a wide range of corporate groups.”
P&O will expand its event facilities in November this year with the addition of two new ships, Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden, which it says will be “ideal for conference groups of up to 200 people”.
And Ms Mutanen said she is hopeful that the company will meet its target of 12,000 meeting delegates in 2016.
“We’re expecting interest will grow even further once Pacific Eden and Pacific Aria arrive in Australia and organisers are able to see just how perfect they are for meetings.”
Most of P&O’s new conference bookings are on the cruise line’s shorter itineraries, ranging from two to five nights.
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