Norwegian Cruise Line has launched a new elite club for top-performing agents and an online training and social networking website for the trade.
The President’s Club UK replaces the cruiseline’s High Society club for top-selling agents and follows its agent research programme Partnership 2.0.
The club, which has four bands, will include around 40 agents that sell more than 80% of the cruiseline’s product in the UK.
Agents that sell more than £1 million worth of NCL’s sales in a year will go in the top tier President’s Club Elite, while agents that sell more than £500,000 will be in the President’s Club, those that sell more than £250,000 will be in the Captain’s Club Elite, and more than £150,000 will be in the Captain’s Club.
Agents in the club will be rewarded with extra benefits such as regular sales calls, special offers, additional marketing support and commission.
NCL UK general manager Stephen Park said the decision to launch the club now was even more relevant because of the economic downturn. “We are keeping three ships in Europe next year and want to bed this down before the wave [peak sales] period. But now we have the economic downturn it makes it even more relevant. We are determined to focus on our top performing agents,” he said.
At the same time the cruiseline is launching a new online “university” for agents called NCLU.
Nclu.co.uk goes live on December 1 and replaces agent training scheme Cruise Academy. Adapted from the cruiseline’s US training site, it will feature courses and social networking elements. New courses will be added every two months.
Agents who register before January 1 will gain a place on an NCL ship visit, and after successfully completing each course they will be entered into a draw to win a two-night mini-cruise. Points earned will count towards the Association of Cruise Experts’ accredition programme.