Following Cruiseabout’s relaunch after five years and the opening of its first store in Perth last week, the Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) brand has announced the appointment of Brooke Rand as its new Head of Product.
After four years leading the cruise strategy for RAA Travel, Ms Rand joins Flight Centre Travel Group’s (FCTG) newest brand.
The move marks her return to FCTG, where she had an extensive eight-year career. Ms Rand started as a travel consultant on the Gold Coast and later diversified to take on roles including Product Manager and Tour and Cruise Strategist.
Cruiseabout General Manager Brad Kennedy said Ms Rand’s highly specialised cruise experience and intimate product knowledge made her the perfect person for the job.
“Brooke’s track record in cruise is second-to-none, from being a top seller in her first Flight Centre store, to training others on cruise, working with cruise lines on contracting and creating and executing cruise product strategy,” Mr Kennedy said.
“Cruise is in Brooke’s blood and we are in excellent hands with her helping us drive Cruiseabout’s growth plans. Together we will deliver amazing results to our key partners and selling agents.”
Ms Rand said she couldn’t wait to get started as a Cruiseader.
“It’s wonderful to be back with my Flight Centre Travel Group family, taking on an exciting new role in a new brand that’s part of a thriving sector of the travel industry.”
“I look forward to helping Cruiseabout’s incredible partners and suppliers grow their market share and elevate their cruise product offering to our customers.”
Cruising has been one of the fastest sectors of the travel industry to recover post-pandemic.
According to the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), a record 31.7 million people took an ocean cruise worldwide in 2023.
Australia is the world’s fourth largest cruise market – 1.25 million Australians took an ocean cruise during 2023, up from 1.24 million in 2019.
Flight Centre Travel Group’s (FCTG) dedicated cruise business is looking to leverage that demand – starting with the new Cruiseabout store in Westfield Whitford City in Perth, followed by bricks and mortar stores in Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
