The participation of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) in this month’s Luxury Travel Exchange International (LTX) in Las Vegas has gained the overwhelming approval of travel advisors registered for the event, who have booked solid the CLIA Specialty and Luxury Showcase, an in-depth presentation on how to sell seven featured cruise lines.
LTX, presented by Luxury Travel Advisor and Travel Agent magazines and produced by Questex Hospitality + Travel, is scheduled Sept. 10-12 at The Venetian Las Vegas and Sands Expo Convention Center, where more than 900 fully vetted, top-producing luxury and premium advisors will meet with 350 leading suppliers for exclusive one-to-one appointments and participate in interactive networking and accredited educational programming.
Marilyn McHugh, Questex Hospitality + Travel vice president, global events, said LTX has a proven track record “delivering qualified and measureable results” for its delegates because participants are careful vetted. “LTX brings suppliers face-to-face solely with prequalified travel advisors that have a common and vested interest in their business,” she said.
New this year and being launched exclusively at LTX is a CLIA course entitled “The New Face of Luxury Cruising.” The seminar will explore “how the face of luxury cruising is changing, from cruisers to destinations to the ships themselves” and the “do’s and don’ts” for selling luxury cruises. Participants will earn credit toward CLIA certification.
The CLIA Specialty and Luxury Showcase, now in its second year at LTX, features fast-paced, product briefings about each of the participating cruise lines: AmaWaterways, American Cruise Lines, Hurtigruten, Regent Seven Seas Cruises®, Seabourn, Silversea Cruises and Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection.
In addition to discovering the diversity offered by CLIA’s Specialty Cruise Collection – a universe that includes coastal, specialty, river and luxury cruising – travel advisors participating in the showcase will learn practical and profitable ways to fully integrate specialty cruising into their sales and marketing efforts.
In another first for LTX, Margaret Murphy, CLIA senior vice president, marketing and trade relations, will present a seminar for suppliers entitled “Branding: If You Don’t Make a Name for Yourself, Someone Else Will!” She will share insights about “how personal image, reputation, identity and brand help you show up at your best when it counts the most.”
“CLIA is committed to education that is targeted, relevant and, most importantly, supports agents in growing their sales,” said Murphy. “We are delighted that Questex and LTX are partnering with us to bring conference attendees a brand-new accredited course in a new, fast-paced, one-hour format.”
LTX is hybrid event offering both a traditional trade-show experience as well as more intimate, one-to-one meetings on its signature LTX Exchange floor, where business is conducted. The advisor audience, ranging from owners and managers to front-line affiliated and unaffiliated advisors, can take advantage of substantial learning and earning opportunities.
Educational topics are guided by LTX’s advisory board, composed of experts representing the top-producing North American luxury travel agencies and global supplier partners. Sessions this year will include sales and marketing, professional development and overall service experience. Discussions will focus on how to gain confidence in upselling, overcoming obstacles to maximize sales opportunities, customer service best practices and managing a brand.
In addition to CLIA and its seven featured cruise lines, LTX supplier partners and supporters include AAT Kings Australia and New Zealand, Africa Answers, Air New Zealand Vacations, AMResorts, Down Under Answers, Base Entertainment, Cirque du Soleil, Ensemble, Japan National Tourism Organization, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Bureau, Results Travel, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, The Travel Institute, Travel Leaders, Tulalip Resort Casino, Virtuoso and Vacation.com.