Susan Haberle, VP, sales & partnerships Australia and New Zealand with Abercrombie & Kent points out that the company purchased Cox & Kings in 2019 and has since been operating successfully out of the UK.
‘We are aware that Cox & Kings had a bumpy exit from this market but like we did with Crystal, Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group (AKTG) has kept all the good bits of Cox & Kings and made it even better. We have decided the time is right to relaunch here. Agents and clients can be totally confident of the financial stability of Cox & Kings now and we feel privileged to be bringing new life to the brand.’
Haberle was joined by sales director NZ Anoushka Kudav and by London-based director, product of Cox & Kings, George Colvin-Slee at the event in the Park Hyatt Auckland.
‘We felt this is something that meets a gap in the New Zealand market. A lot of operators do premium but we are a heritage brand, focusing on historical and character-full accommodation with a maximum of 18 in each group and an average of 14,’ says Colvin-Slee.
Whereas A&K offers only five and five-plus star accommodation, Cox & Kings has 15% of its inventory in the three-star category, 50% four-star and 35% five-star.
‘Our clients might be able to afford luxury but they don’t always need it, it is more important to really discover a destination and sometimes the places we visit don’t have the five-star product.’
Colvin-Slee says other distinctions between A&K and C&K include the number of inclusions (Cox & Kings itineraries build in more free time) and the meals that are covered in the price (C&K includes 25% of the lunches and dinners and all breakfasts).
The Cox and Kings launch here is centred around the brand’s small group tours, with tailor-made set to be officially launched later this year.
On the Abercrombie & Kent front Haberle highlights the ‘rapid expansion’ of the company’s DMCs, including new operators in the Nordics, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Mexico, Bolivia and South Korea.
For Crystal Cruises, the new Crystal Grace is open for sale now for 28 itineraries from June 2028 – another three vessels are on order.
Haberle also emphasised the growing popularity of cruise-land programmes (combining Crystal and A&K) as well as a World Cruise in 2029 that includes Australia and New Zealand before crossing the Pacific and covering the Americas through to Europe.
