Following the November 2015 terror attacks in Paris, the Travel Corporation initially scrapped plans to launch Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection's Joie de Vivre on the Seine River. Travel Weekly senior editor Michelle Baran sat down with Travel Corporation chief executive Brett Tollman onboard the Joie de Vivre during its launch in Paris last month to talk about staying the course.
Q: How much of a risk was it to continue with the plans to launch the Joie de Vivre in Paris?
A: The next morning after the attacks, we were here in Paris with the whole family. In light of the reporting, [the] closed borders and the initial response, we did decide to postpone the construction of the ship. And then two weeks later, we spoke again, and decided that we were going to continue with it. Calmer heads prevailed. There's only one France, there's only one Paris. As a family business, we always take a long-term view to our business, our industry, and we felt that it was very important that we commit ourselves to France to help the French tourism recovery and that in time people would come back.
Q: What kind of investment did TTC make in this vessel?
Brett Tollman
A: [Around $27.7 million], all paid by the company. There is no debt on this ship. We're very proud of that. With rising interest rates in the world today, that is obviously a worry for those who do have massive leverage in investments.
Q: Where do you see Uniworld standing with regard to the luxury river competition?
A: We were the first company -- and the only company, frankly -- to invest in ships that are 100% designed with the destination and the itinerary in mind. Everyone else is a cookie cutter. If you look at Crystal's very nice ships, they're by some designer that makes it look like Seabourn or a W Hotel. [The Joie's] carpet took a year to design and is unique to just this ship. Every suite has been personally designed with attention-to-detail touches that we've collected over the years. We established the luxury segment in river cruising. We're very happy Crystal has followed us. And now with two -- only two -- companies in the luxury space, I think it's very positive. When you have good competition everyone lifts their game, and it's good for the customer to have choice.
Q: How much do you plan to continue to grow Uniworld in 2018 and beyond?
A: The focus for next year is launching U by Uniworld. It's going to be the coolest new innovation. There's over 80 million people in this target age demographic. [Beyond that], the goal is over the next several years to continue to add to our capacity where it's prudent and appropriate. Ellen [Bettridge, Uniworld CEO] and I met with our partner in Vietnam and Cambodia and we're looking to build a new ship together for 2020 there. We're looking at another ship in Europe that we're going to be building and developing over the next couple of years for 2020 as well. And then we're looking to add another ship in 2019 for the U by Uniworld inventory.
Q: Where does TTC's business to Paris and to Europe for 2017 currently stand overall?
A: Paris is still recovering, but it's well on its way. Bookings are up nicely vs. a year ago. Are they where they were prior to Nov. 13, 2015? No, but they're well on their way. [Since the attacks], we said 'We're with you, we support you, we have since day one.' And we encourage everyone in the industry to do the same, because whether it's France or London or New York or San Bernardino, Calif., or Orlando, we're all in this together. None of us should run from this just for pure principles of democracy and free society. And second, as an industry, we all need to stay together. Companies that pull out of France I think are wrong, both for their own long-term commitment as well as to show that we're an industry that's strong and united and doesn't run from issues like this.