Century River Cruises is renewing its deal with the North American market, mentioned the corporate’s Deputy Common Supervisor, Richard Xie.
Transferring away from a pre-pandemic enterprise mannequin, the Chinese language firm is establishing its personal business operation in the US, he advised Cruise Trade Information.
Beforehand, Century primarily attracted Individuals to its Yangtze River itineraries by partnerships with native tour operators and suppliers.
In response to Xie, Viking was a key participant on this technique, collaborating with the corporate for over 20 years.
Whereas additionally partnering with different U.S.-based journey operators like Tauck, Grand Circle, Uniworld and Avalon, Century managed to draw practically 20,000 American vacationers to its cruises in China yearly, he famous.
Since opening its personal workplace in Los Angeles in 2019, the corporate has up to now sourced about company from North America.
Whereas most of them are Chinese language Individuals, Century is now efficiently penetrating the mainstream market within the U.S., he added.
“That’s one of many major targets of our five-year plan. That’s why we’ve been working to arrange our model consciousness and construct our personal distribution channels for mainstream journey advisors.”
As a part of its market technique, Century is presently working with companions to prepare a familiarization journey for U.S.-based journey advisors, Xie mentioned.
“We’re additionally partnering with main media too, attempting to do extra,” he added, noting that the corporate’s plans embody increasing into different worldwide markets corresponding to Continental Europe and the UK.
“Earlier than the pandemic, we had been only a Yangtze River cruise line offering our providers to the key tour operators in North America. Now, since now we have arrange our personal operational firm in California, we’re appearing as a tour operator,” Xie defined.
The corporate has additionally confronted some challenges, Xie famous, together with the geopolitical state of affairs between China and the US.
“One other minor aspect affecting our operations is the flights between the 2 nations. The frequency hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic ranges, and the costs are additionally fairly costly,” he mentioned.
In response to Xie, a direct flight from any main metropolis within the U.S. to China can value as much as $2,000 per particular person.
Century’s previous experiences with the U.S. market helped form its product to cater to each Chinese language and worldwide company, Xie defined.
“Earlier than the pandemic, we had all of those companions onboard, so our providers and facilities onboard don’t have any downside catering to North American vacationers.”
The corporate’s cruises presently appeal to principally home vacationers from China, with Southeast Asians additionally serving as essential sources of passengers.
After constructing 4 550-guest vessels since 2020, Century intends to proceed increasing its fleet with smaller ships.
In response to Xie, plans are presently in place for a collection of upscale newbuilds within the 200-passenger vary.
“We’ve renderings for an excellent luxurious, smaller river ship. Will probably be within the five-star section, catering to the higher class, the high-end clients.”
Whereas its ships are constructed at state-owned shipyards, Century is concerned in all phases of building and improvement of the brand new vessels, he added.
“We deliver our personal groups for design and building. We use among the shipyard’s human sources as properly, however the administration is at all times our personal,” he defined.
Chairman and Proprietor Peng Jianhu performs an essential function within the firm’s success and growth, Xie mentioned.
“He’s an bold one who created his personal idea and mentality in the direction of river cruises,” he added.
After beginning his profession as a tour information, Jianhu reworked a small journey company into a serious river cruise line, Xien famous.
“He had been on European cruises dozens of instances earlier than he constructed his personal ship, making a forward-looking imaginative and prescient for his model.”
Along with the brand new Century Voyage, which entered service in September, the corporate additionally operates a fleet of 5 “brand-new” vessels on the Yangtze River, Xie mentioned.
After having earlier expertise within the space, the corporate may additionally increase its operations to ocean cruising sooner or later, he added.