Advantage members have seen an increase in cruise sales in the last three months since the consortium appointed a cruise consultant and set up a dedicated cruise desk.
Year-on-year sales are up 40% with Complete Cruise Solution, up 72% with Royal Caribbean, up 32% with Silversea and up 62% with Costa Cruises.
Jason Peters, who was appointed cruise consultant in January, has secured exclusive special departures with CCS and planned a dedicated RCCL training day. He has also secured exclusive groups with Crystal, Holland America and NCL and put in place a full ship visit programme for members.
The Advantage/RCCL training day is planned for June 3 with another date to be confirmed in the Midlands in July. A half-day cruise workshop will be held as part of the Advantage Conference on September 19.
Having established a cruise desk to assist members with sales and advice, Advantage now also provides regular updates with latest offers from key cruise partners and exclusive member events such as the Advantage Equinox showcase on July 26 in Southampton.
Advantage commercial director Julia Lo Bue-Said said: “A number of Advantage members are turning to cruise and are growing this area of their business because there are often generally better commissions to be earned compared to other types of holidays. The activities we have put in place combined with Advantage members more actively selling cruise are reaping rewards.”