Virgin Voyages has completed its biggest UK and Ireland trade activation to date, welcoming more than 1,200 travel agents on Valiant Lady this summer
The programme of visits took place throughout August in Dublin; Glasgow; Liverpool; Belfast; Edinburgh and twice in Portsmouth.
It marked the highest number of ports and ship visits Virgin Voyages has included in a single UK and Ireland trade initiative.
Feedback from the tour showed 94 per cent of attendees rated the overall experience a four or five out of five, with Belfast and Glasgow each reaching 96 per cent. Onboard service scored 94 per cent and food scored 90 per cent.
Agents were asked, “how confident are you in selling Virgin Voyages?” before and after the visits, with results showing overall confidence rising from 57 per cent to 91 per cent.
At each event, agents took part in ship tours, hands-on product experiences, hosted dining and entertainment showcases. In total, 79 per cent of the agents who attended were new to selling the Virgin Voyages brand.
SJ Walker, UK director of sales at Virgin Voyages, said: "These results show why ship visits matter. We always talk up our kid-free positioning, buffet-free all-included dining and boutique hotel design, but stepping onboard makes that difference feel tangible.
"First Mates [travel agents] left with a clearer sense of who Virgin Voyages is for and with the confidence to sell this brand. I'm incredibly proud of our sales team and onboard Crew, who worked around a busy live operation to create seven memorable events."
The visits followed Valiant Lady's two-week dry dock and gave agents first-hand experience of the ship's latest enhancements.
Additions include Ariya by Razzle Dazzle, a new Indian restaurant; refreshed social spaces including The Roundabout, The Manor, On the Rocks, Grounds Club Too and The Athletic Club; as well as more than 20 events.
