FORT LAUDERDALE -- Wall Street analysts largely seem to have ceased questioning whether the travel agent channel is a worthwhile investment, in large part because the lines are performing so well from a financial standpoint.
But from a president's perspective, there's no question about the channel's value.
During the Presidents' Panel at CruiseWorld, Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Andy Stuart said, "Our job is to run the company in the most profitable way." Agents produce a lot of bookings, and Wall Street's view doesn't change that, he said.
"We never know what Wall Street believes or what they won't believe," said Celebrity Cruises CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo. "You never know when you end a call [with analysts] what's going to happen, but to Andy's point, it really doesn't matter."
Lutoff-Perlo said analysts used to think about agents as they relate to costs, but their concerns have shifted more toward operating income.