Worldchoice Cruise Club has boosted its ranks with a further 16 agents in the last two months and is striking a range of allocation deals with cruiselines.
Cruise Club manager Charlie Weller, who was appointed in September, said the group now had 60 members and will easily reach its target of 75 agents next year. “We will re-look at how it’s going when we reach 75,” he added.
The club has also signed product deals with Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, Crystal Cruises, Island Cruises and Complete Cruise Solution to offer travel agents bespoke product on chosen itineraries, packaging cabins with special offers such as onboard credit, to sell on to clients.
Further deals with Carnival and Holland America Line are in the pipeline, added Weller.
Meanwhile, sales targets with partner cruiselines will be introduced next year and members have been told to submit marketing plans before Christmas for 2009. Weller said: “I want to see what members are doing to market cruises in 2009 rather than just talk about it.”