Norwegian Cruise Line took home the award for Most Outstanding Industry Support – Cruise at the recent National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA), but the cruise line, says NCL Director of Sales Australia/New Zealand Damian Borg, isn’t just selling a product anymore…
Considering this was the first NTIA since 2019, how special does this year’s award feel?
Winning an NTIA Award is quite special in any year – but to be recognised in our industry when the world had just been turned upside down, really makes us feel that we did something right over the past two years. It wasn’t an easy time, but our ‘Partners First” philosophy really shone through.
You had some stiff competition. To what do you attribute your win?
Let me first start by saying a massive “well done” to everyone working in the cruise industry, both locally and globally. I am so proud of how we all bonded together to support one another through those tough times.
It’s because of the stiff competition that we strived for success, as we are constantly needing to be at the top of our game.
I give most of the credit to the team I work with here at NCL for all pulling together and driving towards the same goals. We very quickly recognised that we needed to build a plan to support, encourage and respect our travel agency partner needs during the last two years, and I am thankful to everyone here who did their part to contribute to our execution strategy. It was really a case of One Team, One Dream!
How has the pandemic changed the way you operate?
It’s made us more resilient, that’s for sure. It’s no longer just about selling a product; it’s now also about selling confidence and assurance to guests who are bursting with enthusiasm albeit with a little hesitation. Those tough times forced us to think differently – and the ideas we produced have set a nice foundation from which we aim to build with partners into the future. We are better for the experience.
Where to now for cruising and travel more broadly?
I don’t know anyone who isn’t booking or planning a holiday of some type. Cruising has a very loyal customer base, and you can already see that industry is booming in most parts of the world. Cruisers are very resilient, and with so many new ships being launched, including our very own Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva – two of six new Prima Class vessels we have scheduled through 2027 – there is a lot of capacity coming into the market, which we are confident will fill fast. The great thing for Australian Cruisers is that as an early booking market, we usually get the first opportunity to book the best product!
What do you love most about the travel industry?
For me, it’s all about people and places. The people I associate with every day, whether they be part of our team, travel agent partners, or peers at other suppliers – they are the heart and soul of this industry. And then there are the places – I still get excited every time I board a plane, which is quite frequently. No matter the destination, there is always a new and exciting experience around the corner that I can’t wait to explore. I can’t say my bucket is full yet, but it’s pretty close!
NCL also walked away with the gong for Most Outstanding Marketing Campaign – Supplier, for its Walk for Wellness initiative.
Visit the NCL website for more on the cruise line.
