Ensemble navigates its future

ENSEMBLE is busily increasing its office staff to keep up with growth across Australia and New Zealand following an increase in membership and new technology set to roll out.

Next month the international travel consortium will introduce Navigate to the local market, an integrated booking platform which will bolster its cruise offering and provide exclusive value-added benefits.

Katy Muyt, Ensemble’s GM Australia & New Zealand told Travel Daily that Navigate would be fully functional in this market by 30 Sep.

“This will make things for members so much easier as Navigate will have direct access to live inventory.”

Muyt said that pricing via the Navigate portal would be in Australian and New Zealand currency with local deals from cruise suppliers feeding through “so agents will get access to the best price for their clients…with around $300 to $400 of added value that’s exclusive to Ensemble for each cruise booking”.

Muyt flagged plans to expand Ensemble’s membership, with a goal to get to 100 members in Australia and potential for New Zealand to double from it’s current 30 members.

“Our price point to join, when compared to others is very good,” she said.

Muyt highlighted that commission rates were “1% to 2% higher than our competitors” and added that agents are attracted to Ensemble because of the number of DMCs and speciality operators they source from to “fill the void” in the luxury market.

Muyt hinted that another big announcement would be made at Ensemble’s annual conference, which is set to take place in Oct in Seattle.