As 2019 draws to a close, we’re taking a look back at some of the highlights from Cunard’s Brand Partnerships and Events Calendar over the past 12 months.
Cunard was delighted to partner with Royal Ascot for the second year on the Royal Ascot Style Guide, launching in March. Royal Ascot took place between Tuesday 18 and Saturday 22 June 2019 and is the summer event by which all others are measured in terms of style. Featured looks this year included designs from Emilia Wickstead, Zimmerman, Victoria Beckham and Mary Katrantzou.
Lee Powell, VP Brand and Product, Cunard, said: “Cunard and Ascot share a passion for creating unforgettable moments that exude style and have a real sense of occasion so we were delighted to be associated with the Royal Ascot Style Guide for a second year."
On Thursday 21 March we hosted the annual Cunard Gala Dinner in aid of The Prince’s Trust at the Rosewood Hotel, London. The gala was attended by 200 VIPs including royal milliner Stephen Jones OBE, Captain Hashmi, Captain Inger Klein Thorhauge plus partners and friends of Cunard with singer and Prince’s Trust ambassador Pixie Lott giving an unforgettable performance. The Cunard Gala raised £40,000 for The Prince’s Trust.
Beyond supporting with crucial fundraising, we also worked with colleagues on board Queen Victoria and with the shore-side HR team here at Carnival House to arrange three employability workshops to help equip young people with the skills and confidence to enter the travel industry, raise aspirations and open up the wide range of careers on land and at sea. In May and October, employability workshops took place at Carnival House with 25 young people taking part in a CV writing masterclass and interview skills workshop. In September, we welcomed 11 young people on board Queen Victoria for a ‘World of Work’ tour, hosted by the crew. The group had a tour of the ship, including the crew areas, and learned about the opportunities for a career at sea.
Branding board on the red carpet at the Olivier Awards 2019 with Mastercard
On Sunday 7 April, world class talent from on and off the stage gathered at the Royal Albert Hall for the 43rd Oliver Awards and Cunard's Captain Inger Klein Thorhauge together with actor Danny Dyer presented the ‘Best Revival’ award to director Rebecca Frecknall at the star studded ceremony who said that of the five awards that Summer and Smoke were nominated for, Cunard's Best Revival was the award they were keen to win the most.
Cunard, in partnership with the Olivier Awards will present the first ever London Theatre at Sea voyage in May 2020.
We were delighted to support ENB’s critically acclaimed production of “She Persisted” and to develop together the first Cunard and ENB Special Event Voyage “Dance the Atlantic”, a unique Transatlantic Crossing experience on board Queen Mary 2 in August 2019.
She Persisted was performed at Sadler’s Wells theatre in London. Travel agents and partners were invited by Cunard to attend a performance with a guest from ROL Cruise writing a blog on the experience, concluding “English National Ballet will certainly be a sensational addition to Cunard’s iconic repertoire and one that we’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for.”
The partnership between English National Ballet and Cunard has been shortlisted for the “Arts and Culture” award at the European Sponsorship Awards. The awards ceremony will take place on 26 February 2020 in London.
In June, we returned to the RHS Chatsworth Flower Show taking place in the heart of the Peak District in Derbyshire within the grounds of the stunning Chatsworth Estate to present the “Piano stage in association with Cunard.” This enchanting event featured gardening inspiration, culinary treats, engaging workshop and irresistible shopping as well as Cunard's Iconic Bell Boys. With over 50,000 visitors, the event has become one of the highlights of the English Summer season.
On Friday 6 and Saturday 7 of September, Ascot presented the Italian Tourist Board Festival of Food & Wine Racing Weekend, showcasing food and wine from around the world, culinary demonstrations by top chefs, including Cunard Culinary Development Chef Gareth Bowen, and industry experts mixed with fabulous flat racing such as The Cunard Handicap Stakes on Saturday 7 September attended by over 12,000 people and shown live on ITV.
On Sunday 6 October Team Cunard formed of colleagues from across CUK travelled from Southampton to Buckingham Palace to take on The Prince’s Trust’s annual Palace to Palace cycle challenge, a 45 mile route through Richmond Park and the Surrey countryside before finishing in Windsor. The Team raised an incredible £2,589.50, a huge congratulations to all involved!
We were delighted to partner with The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival, which in 2019 celebrated its 70th anniversary, presenting the VIP Lounge in association with Cunard and six Author Events at one of the world’s oldest literary festivals. The Cunard presented events included talks by 2020 Literature Festival at Sea authors Pam Ayres and Alexander Mcall Smith as well as theatre legend Andrew Lloyd Webber.
The Prince’s Trust Christmas Concert in association with Cunard took place at the beautiful St Marylebone Parish Church, London. The evening was a spectacular affair with special readings from renowned Hollywood actors and Prince's Trust Ambassadors, Jeremy Irons and Vanessa Redgrave and an exclusive performance from Award-Winning Classical Soprano and Classic BRIT Award Nominee, Katie Marshall. Guests were also treated to a musical performance of Sleigh Ride from The Prince's Trust very own Community Choir and a reading from Young Ambassador, Emma Quinn.
2020 shows no sign of slowing down for Cunard with a full calendar of Brand Partnerships and Events, including ‘Love Classical’ at the Royal Albert Hall, a new English National Ballet production with Akram Khan at Sadler’s Wells and The Cunard Gala in aid of The Prince’s Trust, celebrating our 180th anniversary.
We look forward to sharing these and many other stories from our brand partners in 2020.