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| (c) 2011 CLIA |
Good news for agents. Introduced and strongly received at the 2011 cruise3sixty conference in Fort Lauderdale, CLIA’s newest seminar, Specialty Cruising, is now available as an online course, CLIA reports. It is also currently offered through the Luxury Travel Expo and as part of CLIA’s TrainingFest, the two-day training seminar and trade show that travels throughout the U.S. and Canada.
“Some of the fastest growing segments of cruising can fit into the “specialty cruising” category, notably river cruises and other small ship niche offerings,” said Tom Cogan, CLIA’s director of training. “By offering the seminar as an online course, we can reach a far greater number of agents who want the opportunity to learn how to take advantage of this fast growing market.”
By taking the course online, CLIA notes, agents may also work to complete the requirements at a pace that fits into their work and personal lives most conveniently.
CLIA defines “specialty cruising” as niche markets, river cruises, small ships, and special interest cruises. Once a small part of the industry, it has shown strong growth as a greater diversity of vacationers turn to cruise vacations as a first choice. The seminar teaches agents how to identify and sell to these clients using the “hot buttons” that they respond to, and what destinations specialty cruisers prefer. The course also provides practical and profitable ways to fully integrate specialty cruising into an agent or agency’s existing business mix and sales and marketing efforts.
Visit www.cruising.org/travelagents