New Association of Cruise Experts director Flo Powell is preparing a recommended training plan for agents to try to increase the numbers reaching ACE Ambassador status.
Powell, who took up her new role three weeks ago, said it will be geared to new-to-cruise agents and also those who are more experienced, and will outline ACE courses and modules they should take to develop their knowledge and expertise.
She said: “It will help them focus on what they should be doing and also hopefully encourage them to do more training.”
Agents earn points for all on-line training, and for attending ship visits and expo workshops. They become ACE experts when they get 150 points and Ambassadors at 600 points. There are currently fewer than 30 Ambassadors and Powell is keen to “ramp up” numbers.
She is also looking to enhance the expos, which combine training with a trade fair. Powell said: “I would like to hold all expos on a ship and have a different theme for each, for instance river cruises or luxury.
“It depends on the collaboration of cruise lines, and it is a big commitment for them, but they need to get their products to the trade because it is so vital that agents match clients to the right cruise ship.”
Powell said she is hopes to have details of the 2010 expo programme and next year’s ship visits out soon, and is looking to announce dates as soon as possible for next year’s Cruise Convention in Southampton.
She is also working with the Travel Foundation, a UK charity dedicated to helping travel companies be more eco-friendly, to create a training programme that focuses on cruising and the environment.
She said: “It’s something clients are asking about and the cruiselines are doing a lot, but they need to tell agents. The training will have advice on what cruise clients can do to help the environment.”
Two new destination training courses, on the Atlantic Isles and North Sea, went live on the ACE website two weeks ago and there are new training modules from Norwegian Cruise Line and Cunard.