Podcasts, online video and interactive learning have helped Royal Caribbean International exceed its agent training target for the year.
The cruise line’s aimed to have 7,000 agents signed up to Cruising for Excellence by the end of 2007 but it has already reached more than 8,000 with around 1,200 agents signing up since the launch of its new interactive area – Captain’s Zone.
Last week, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises training and development officers Michelle Russell and David Chidley posted their first vodcast – a video of training online – and so far the response has been ‘fantastic’.
The vodcast featured a ship visit on Celebrity Cruises Constellation, an interview with a captain and a trip to Newquay with Travel Weekly to launch the Captain’s Zone Training.
Russell said: “We expected to have more people sign up after the relaunch but we have had more than 300 a month which has been great. We have had a really fantastic feedback from the podcast and vodcast. It is something different for people to do.”
Virtual training is also on the agenda later this year with a module on the revamped ‘Cruise Match’, Royal Caribbean’s online booking tool.
Chidley explained that so far 10 agents have tested out the virtual training environment which will be rolled out for agents to take part in November and December.
He said: “Instead of coming to us we will open up the classroom online and agents can hear us and talk back either over the phone or on email. Agents are starting to hear about it and we have 40 people already signed up.”
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