New Training Planned for CLIA Vancouver Conference

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is taking advantage of its cruise3sixty  annual conference and trade show, to provide travel agents with more opportunities to learn and become CLIA Certified in the shortest amount of time.

This year’s cruise3sixty, to be held in Vancouver June 2-6, will offer 15 CLIA seminars, including two which are brand new and will debut at cruise3sixty. Agents will have the opportunity to earn up to 135 Certification credits – the most available anywhere. CLIA also plans ship inspections, panel discussions, cruise line product briefings, cruise booking demonstrations and product and destination workshops.

“During challenging times, there is nothing more important than being fully prepared and thoroughly knowledgeable. This year’s cruise3sixty offers agents an incomparable opportunity to advance their business skills, master their knowledge of cruising and qualify themselves as Certified by CLIA, a recognition that consumers consistently say they value and depend upon,” said Terry L. Dale, CLIA’s president and CEO. Registrations for cruise3sixty are filling up quickly and CLIA said it expects another sell-out, for the sixth year in a row.

Particularly relevant to today’s business environment, the two new seminars at cruise3sixty are the three-hour program “Getting Connected: A Primer on Social Media Networking,” and the 90-minute session, “Selling Successfully Across Cultures.”

Among the other seminars are sessions covering presentation skills, business plans, building client loyalty, special interest marketing, principles of professional selling, relationship management, understanding groups and others. Agents who enroll in the CLIA “Institute Track” of cruise3sixty programming can earn up to 135 Certification credits during the course of the event but seminars are open to all delegates, enrolled in Certification or not.

Participants will have the benefit of hearing from outstanding leaders in business and the cruise industry during general sessions, and take part in panel discussions, including “The Small Ship Experience Delivers Big Rewards,” and “Redefining Luxury in a New Economy.”

Other educational features of cruise3sixty include:

                Ship inspections of the Alaska fleet representing several CLIA member lines

                50-minute product and destination workshops showcasing top cruise destinations and innovative cruise-related products

                The American Express Technology Center: 50-minute workshops offering hands-on, practical experience with the latest travel technology

                Booking demonstrations offered by CLIA member lines ensuring that agents derive maximum benefits from the latest booking technologies

                Cruise line product briefings

CLIA’s education and training programming will be supplemented by plentiful opportunities for valuable networking at general sessions and important social events like the popular CLIA Hall of Fame dinner. Nominations for this year’s inductees will open next month.

This year’s cruise3sixty participants will have the extraordinary pleasure of being in the audience for Blue Man Group, presented by Norwegian Cruise Line, along with 42Five, presented by Celebrity Cruises, a five-part cappella group from Florida that has set new boundaries for vocal performance. This year’s event will also honor the outstanding women that have made major contributions to business and the cruise industry.

Visit www.cruise3sixty.com.