Cruise agents are being asked to join together during the first national consumer cruise week this autumn.
Organised by the Association of Cruise Experts, the event, scheduled for September 7-14, is designed to raise consumer awareness of the choice and diversity of cruising
and drive more bookings through ACE members.
It is based on the World’s Largest Cruise Night, organised by ACE’s US equivalent, Cruise Lines International Association.
CLIA president and chief executive officer Terry Dale said 1,000 agents hosted events at last year’s cruise night, generating 17,000 bookings worth $22 million in sales and $3 million in commission.
Speaking at the Cruise Convention in Southampton this week, ACE business development director Andy Harmer said Cruise Week packs will be sent to members with point-of-sale materials, posters and guides, as well as advice on how to organise and promote events.
He said: “If members are imaginative and innovative, I believe we can cause quite a stir. This can become the world’s biggest cruise event.”