Uniworld Boutique River Cruises hosted its annual conference in Amsterdam over the past few days, the only river cruise line to host such an event with brand representatives from around the globe ascending on the Dutch capital. Not just senior executives, sales staff and frontline personnel, but Uniworld’s hardworking nautical, culinary and hotel operations crews attended the multi-day event.Hosted aboard Uniworld’s ships, the conference is timed ahead of the start of the European river cruise season.The Australian sales team travelled to Amsterdam for the conference to meet their global counterparts, learn about Uniworld’s latest innovations across the business, and toured the luxury river operator’s newest fleet addition, S.S. Victoria, due to enter service in just weeks. The 110-guest S.S. Victoria was previously operated by Crystal River Cruises as Crystal Bach and has been chartered by Uniworld on a long-term contract.Subscribe to LATTE Cruise’s free eNewsletter to keep up to date with everything in the luxury cruise space.Alice Ager, Managing Director of Uniworld, Australia/NZ told LATTES.S. Victoria is “absolutely stunning” and will leave guests gobsmacked once they sail upon her on the Rhine from next month.During the conference, Uniworld revealed the cruise line had reduced food waste by 36% in 2023 and was on track to reach its target of a 50% reduction by 2026.Excitingly, Uniworld announced a new ship build will be coming in 2026. Further details on that will be advised at a later date.Brett Tollman, Chairman of The Travel Corporation (the parent brand of Uniworld and many other travel and touring brands) acknowledged the achievements of Uniworld in 2023 and was enthusiastic about the future of the brand, Ager said.The conference was also a platform for the company to shine the limelight on some of its staff for their successes at the Uniworld 2024 Gala Awards.This year, in the running for Uniworld’s Salesperson of the Year were the Aussie trio of Jen Pagett, Shelley Martin and Fran Gildon.
The Australian trio scooped the category, recognised as the Global Sales Team of the Year – being Uniworld’s most profitable team in the world.Lead image: Pictured at the photo wall in Amsterdam (and in matching Camilla dresses no less) with event emcee (centre), from left are Uniworld Australia’s Jen Pagett, Shelley Martin, Alice Ager and Fran Gildon.
