Riviera Travel has reinforced its close collaboration with agent partners on its seventh Agent Committee Meeting in London
The bi-annual meeting brought together 17 leading travel agent representatives from across the UK on October 1st.
These representatives provided honest feedback and suggestions for new ideas to inform Riviera’s continuous improvements for trade service.
It was led by CEO Matt Luscombe, Vicky Billing, director of trade, partnership and loyalty, and Amanda Docherty, head of trade.
Attendees included reps from Advantage Travel Partnership, arrangeMY escape, Designer Travel, Fred Olsen Travel, Go Cruise & Travel, Hays Travel, IGLU, InteleTravel, ROL, Silver Travel Advisor, Trailfinders, Travel Counsellors, TTNG and TUI.
The round-table forum provides agents with a direct a confidential channel to share market feedback and suggest new ideas, with Riviera using their input to inform continuous enhancements to trade activity and its wider river cruise and touring strategy.
Vicky Billing, director of trade, partnerships, and loyalty UK & IRE at Riviera Travel, said, “Our Agent Committee gives us honest, practical feedback from the people selling Riviera every day. The strong growth we are seeing through the trade underlines the value of those partnerships, but the meeting is equally as important in showing us where we can do more.
“We are always listening, learning, and acting, from strengthening our river cruise communications to developing our digital tools and future product. We will continue working closely with agents to make Riviera easier to sell and to support their growth.”
The meeting involved topics about updates following the previous meeting, measures introduced in response to low-water conditions, the imminent launch of Riv Rewards, a new Trade loyalty programme, new product launches for 2028, and an early preview for the Peaks 2027 campaign.
“The Riviera Agent Committee is a really valuable forum because it genuinely feels like our feedback is being heard and, importantly, acted upon,” said Margaret McCorriston, from Hays Travel.
“At a time when the river cruise industry continues to navigate the challenges of low water, having CEO Matt Luscombe there in person sends a very strong message about Riviera’s commitment to its trade partners.
“It’s clear that they want to understand the issues we’re facing on the front line, listen to what our agents are telling us, and work collaboratively on solutions. That level of engagement is hugely appreciated and is exactly what you want from a supplier partner.”
The next meeting is scheduled to take place in Spring 2027.
