The Expedition Cruise Network (ECN) has created a training hub for members as it revealed its growth plans for 2024.
The hub, available to the network’s 800 trade members, contains more than 100 training videos to educate agents on topics such as an introduction to expedition cruising, the differences between expedition cruise lines and popular destinations.
It also contains access to webinars with discussions on cruising trends as well as virtual ship tours and cruise line showcase videos.
More: Expedition Cruise Network to run polar webinars for agents
In an interview with Travel Weekly, chief executive Akvile Marozaite (pictured) said she hopes the association will reach 1,000 trade members by the end of the year and will continue to grow its expedition cruise line membership which currently stands at 18.
“Since our launch in April, we have received fantastic feedback from our members on what we’re doing as an association and we want to continue doing that for more of the trade,” she said.
“There are so many agents that want to learn about expedition cruising and we want them to know that we are here to help them and the training hub is a fantastic additional resource making us a one-stop-shop.
“Some agents can find the expedition cruise sector daunting because there’s so much to learn, but we have everything they need so they don’t need to be so terrified.”
Marozaite went on to say the ECN will host its first in-person trade events next year and hinted at plans to hold a conference.
“We’re keen to see our members in person next year at events and ship visits and we’re seriously thinking about holding a conference, although we don’t have any concrete plans in place at the moment,” she said.
“Our main goal is to unite a group of people who are ignited by a passion for expedition cruise and a willingness to learn.”
ECN chair Martin Johnson went on to say the association will publish its first annual insight report later in the year.
Johnson said the ECN gathered information from its expedition cruise operator members which found 50% of their business comes through travel trade channels, but only a third of members generated more than 20% of sales through the UK trade.
“The UK trade has got an enormous opportunity to develop its sales of expedition cruise,” he added.