GMT and Qatar host air/sea execs on the occasion of Seatrade Cruise Global

Guests attended from Atlas Ocean Voyages, Carnival Cruise Line, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Silversea Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Swan Hellenic and Disney Cruise Line, among others. Executives responsible for passenger and crew air arrangements met to share experiences first-hand after almost 18 months into the COVID-19 pandemic.

'The room was full of energy. Everyone has been eager to witness the cruise industry bounce back with more ships coming back into service every day and brand new cruise ships just months away from launch,' said Tim Davey, founder & managing director of Global Marine Travel. 'It was fantastic getting to hear everyone in the room’s unique perspectives and how those ultimately relate back to crew and passenger air travel.'

Steady partner

Davey added: 'Throughout the pandemic, GMT has remained a resilient, trusted partner to all of our clients. We have certainly been able to showcase our travel management expertise, and it has not gone unnoticed.'

'We are encouraged to see the travel industry rebounding in the wake of the global pandemic,' said Craig Thomas, VP sales for the Americas, Qatar Airways. 'Qatar Airways has remained committed to its passengers throughout the pandemic, emphasizing health and safety at all aspects of the travel experience, which resulted in the airline being named World’s Best Airline in the 2021 Skytrax World Airline Awards.

'Global Marine Travel has done the same by remaining a trusted partner to all its clients ... Qatar Airways is proud to have been able to celebrate the reemergence of the cruising industry and looks forward to future collaborations.'

New US policy welcomed

The hosts and attendees welcomed the US move to open air borders to vaccinated and tested international travelers in early November. This will end sweeping bans on most non-citizens from entering the US from the EU, UK and other nations.