MBNA sets sail with Thames Clipper deal
CHESHIRE credit card company MBNA has launched a high visibility marketing push in London.
The brand, one of the biggest employers in Chester and part of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, has agreed a three-year sponsorship deal with Thames Clippers, which operates a fleet of vessels ferrying commuters, tourists and concert goers up and down the River Thames.
The MBNA investment will deliver a range of benefits including the launch of a new boat in early 2015. The new venture will invest in improved ticketing, greater versatility, innovative and easier ways to pay.
Thames Clippers, which is celebrating its 15th year of operating on the river, started as a one-boat venture operation in 1999 carrying 21,000 passengers. It now has a fleet of 13 vessels. Passenger numbers have grown exponentially to 3.3 million in 2013 and are projected to reach 3.6 million by the end of 2014.
Michael Donald, commercial and customer experience executive at MBNA said: “MBNA is making life easier for our customers, partners and the communities in which we operate. The new MBNA Thames Clippers relationship injects valuable and essential private investment into London’s infrastructure, making life easier for commuters and visitors to get around the Capital.”
Sean Collins, co-founder and CEO of Thames Clippers added: “In our fifteenth year of serving London’s commuters and visitors I’m delighted we have a new organisation on board. The relationship with MBNA will help Thames Clippers expand our service by growing our fleet and ensure we contribute to the Mayor’s ambitious passenger growth targets for the Thames.”
London Mayor Boris Johnson and Transport for London in their River Action Plan of 2013, committed to doubling passenger journeys on the Thames to 12 million a year by 2020.
The relationship deal between Thames Clippers and MBNA was negotiated by AEG Global Partnerships, part of the Anschutz Entertainment Group, majority owner of the Thames Clippers service and The O2 arena.
