During a celebratory “Night of the Stars” pier-side at San Francisco on Sunday night, Scenic Global USA held its first-ever trade gala in the U.S. for about 60 top-producing U.S. travel advisors. Some were sailing on Scenic Eclipse, which was docked at the pier, while the line hosted other top producers at a local hotel and provided ship tours.
Glen Moroney, founder and chairman, Scenic Group, spoke to the advisors about the past few years, the events of the past few months, the evolution of Scenic Eclipse and what’s ahead for trade support. Scenic owns and operates two river cruise lines, Scenic Cruises and Emerald Cruises, as well as the oceangoing Scenic Eclipse.
Moderating the trade recognition event was Ann Chamberlin, vice president of sales, Scenic Global USA. During the night’s trade awards presentation, Largay Travel of Waterbury, CT, took home honors as Scenic’s Top Strategic Partner 2022. “We wanted to recognize one agency that went above and beyond the call of duty for Scenic,” Chamberlin told the audience. “They have turned into a strategic marketing partner, a dedicated user of ExpressBook. Sales have grown in excess of 200 percent.”
In addition, she announced these three other top 2022 sales awards:
- Top Agency Partner of the Year for Highest Ocean and Yacht Sales: Specialty Cruise and Villas, Gig Harbor, WA
- Top Agency Partner of the Year for Highest Sales Per Franchise: Cruise Planners, Coral Springs, FL
- Top Agency Partner of the Year for Highest Charter Sales in 2022: Inspirato, Denver, CO
Unfolding Pier-Side
Despite brisk, cool weather outside, Scenic’s trade gala awards program unfolded in a comfortable, upscale, enclosed tent with refreshments and live entertainment. Among the special guests attending were:
- Rodney Fong, president and CEO, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce
- Zane Kerby, president and CEO, American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA)
- Marc Casto, chairman of the board, ASTA, as well as president of leisure in the Americas, Flight Centre Travel Group
- Vanessa McGovern, chief sales and marketing officer, Gifted Travel Network, and godmother of Emerald Luna
- Captain Erwan Le Rouzic, master of Scenic Eclipse
- Manfred Jordan, hotel director, Scenic Eclipse
Thanking the North American travel advisors for their help and support during the industry challenges of the past two and a half years, Moroney emphasized: “For us, the past six or seven months have probably been the most challenging.”
“I think many of you know we got cyber-hacked and then that started a snowball of other issues—with everything from cancelation of cruises to low water to flight cancelations and rescheduling to staff issues," and so on, he said. “The fact that you’re here and still supporting us, it’s very, very much appreciated.”
At the same time, “I can assure you now that we’re back on track, that our documents are out on time, our reservations teams are really delivering now, and I think we’re well and truly back where we should be,” Moroney stressed.
Historically, Scenic began working with U.S. trade partners in 2012. Moroney added that Scenic sales team members are working to further develop the relationship with advisors and cites recent enhancements such as the Advance Commission program. Plus, “we’re looking at developing far more with our cooperative marketing programs, familiarizations, etc. Our support for the trade will only grow into the future.”
Scenic Eclipse's Evolution
Pointing to Scenic Eclipse docked just a few hundred feet away, Moroney talked about the ship’s evolution. The line began designing it about a decade ago. But, “I can assure you [that] what’s behind you, is absolutely not like what we started with,” he quipped. Initially, the plans for the line's first Discovery Yacht were, well, “very, very basic, 160 passengers; I think it had one restaurant not nine,” Moroney said. In addition, the ship’s spa had a couple of treatment rooms, but not a 5,900-square-foot spa, as it does today.
“It certainly didn’t have helicopters and it didn’t have a submarine and it didn’t have any of the other things you see on it now,” he added.
Still, the process continued, the ship got bigger and better, and Scenic was almost at the point of signing a shipyard contract. But then, Moroney told the advisors, “I saw Paul Allen’s superyacht (called Octopus) and he had two helicopters and a submarine on it. And I went, ‘wow.’”
So, he asked himself: “Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could build something like that could give a billionaire’s experience to the masses—people who could spend $10,000 and go and do and enjoy what he can.”
The ice-class Octopus can go to Antarctica, he noted, so that, too, played a role in the first Discovery Yacht’s evolution in style and features.
Scenic Eclipse Today
“So, we ripped up everything and started again,” Moroney acknowledged, adding that now Scenic is very proud of the final result—“the technology, the amenities, the luxury, the whole experience.”
Today, Scenic Eclipse has a Polar Class 6 rating and carries 228 guests, 200 in polar regions. Guests head out to explore by helicopter, submarine, Zodiac and kayak. In addition, the ship’s electronic Azipod propulsion system and oversized stabilizers create a smooth ride. GPS Dynamic Positioning also allows the vessel to maintain location without dropping an anchor onto a sensitive seabed. Inside, guests spread out amid an extremely high space-to-guest ratio. A robust range of luxury suites, high-end services and amenities, plus diverse dining options await.
Tip: Travel Agent is sailing on the ship this week and will have coverage of the experience in the coming weeks.
“Ten years ago, I don’t think we could really foresee where the market was going, but I think we’ve hit a really good, sweet spot,” Moroney believes, citing the luxury, amenities and experiences that the helicopters and submarine deliver.
Scenic Eclipse sails to the Arctic and Antarctica. So, “you can go out to the most remote region in the world, get ice all over you, and then come back [to the ship] and be in the ultimate of luxury, and I think that’s what a discerning market wants,” he stressed.
“So, of course, there are going to be more of these,” he added. “The second one comes in April.” In addition, “I can assure you what comes beyond Eclipse will be even more spectacular,” he noted.
Stars of Scenic
Back to Chamberlin: She spoke about “accomplishments” in her remarks, recognizing the top 2022 sales producers within the U.S. for Scenic Group. Besides the achievers mentioned at the top of this story, here are other big winners:
Top Travel Partner Awards - River Cruising
- Top Seller European River Cruising: Vacations to Go, Houston, TX
- Top Seller Asian River Cruising: Veterans Travel Service, Kansas City, MO
Top Travel Partner Awards – Ocean Cruising
- Top Seller Arctic and Fjords region: Forest Lake Travel, Columbia, SC
- Top Seller Northern Europe and the Mediterranean region: Specialty Cruise and Villas, Gig Harbor, WA;
- Top Seller Americas region: Fitzgerald Tours, Concord, OH
- Top Seller Asia and Pacific region: Travel Planners International, Maitland, FL
As retailers work to sell the Scenic products to their clients, Moroney acknowledged the need for greater market exposure and building consumer awareness.
“We’re the best kept secret,” said Moroney. “Nobody knows about us. So, hopefully you’ll help us spread the word."
As the Scenic event came to a close, travel advisors watched razzle-dazzle, drone-created entertainment in the sky with Scenic Eclipse docked beneath the action in San Francisco Bay.
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