Lindblad Expeditions’ collaboration with Disney’s National Geographic brand promises exciting enhancements in luxury river and ocean cruise promotions.
This newly expanded marketing partnership aims to leverage Disney’s extensive marketing resources, driving global interest and participation.
Lindblad Expeditions has formalised a comprehensive marketing partnership with Disney to boost sales of their co-branded cruises. This collaboration enables Disney to utilise its robust sales channels to promote National Geographic cruises, potentially reaching wider audiences than ever before.
The enhanced marketing strategy focuses on utilising Disney’s expansive marketing resources, fostering an immersive storytelling experience for travellers. This strategic alignment is expected to maximise fleet occupancy and reduce customer acquisition costs.
Over the past two decades, marketing efforts were divided between Lindblad and National Geographic, each operating independently. “That has been completely eliminated,” stated a spokesperson for Lindblad Expeditions.
Both teams now work closely, with regular monthly meetings to develop cohesive strategies. The goal is to ensure that both entities are aligned in their marketing efforts, which enhances the effectiveness of their campaigns.
The alliance provides Lindblad with the confidence and resources needed to expand their fleet, which has already grown significantly since 2016.
Lindblad now has opportunities to expand their offerings in the U.S. and Canadian markets, with plans to acquire ships accommodating up to 530 passengers.
Executives believe that securing financing for these new vessels will be more feasible, given the strength of the partnership and its potential to drive growth.
Lindblad has significantly upgraded its technology to support the anticipated surge in business. 2023 saw the launch of a new reservation system, part of a broader digital transformation including a new CRM and digital asset management system.
These technological enhancements are driving record bookings via their website, improving conversion rates across all sales channels and enhancing guest service metrics.
In addition to more extensive use of the National Geographic brand, Lindblad now benefits from Disney’s vast marketing resources.
This strategic collaboration is anticipated to significantly increase the reach and effectiveness of Lindblad’s marketing efforts, driving higher levels of engagement with potential customers.
Executives are optimistic about the potential of this partnership to enhance their competitive advantage in the luxury cruise market.
Lindblad reported serving a record number of guests and achieving unprecedented revenue. In the last fiscal year, the company welcomed 30,000 guests and generated $570 million in revenue.
These milestones highlight the growing popularity of Lindblad’s offerings, supported by the progressive marketing strategies being implemented through the partnership with Disney.
The promising partnership between Lindblad and Disney signifies an exciting future for National Geographic cruises. Both companies are poised to explore new market opportunities and introduce innovative experiences for travellers.
As Lindblad and Disney embark on this promising journey together, the future of National Geographic cruises seems brighter than ever. The strategic partnership is set to unlock new levels of success and engagement for the luxury cruise industry.