Nicko Cruises has created an agent training scheme designed to increase awareness of its ocean cruise product within the trade.
Michelle Daniels, UK & Europe commercial director of Nicko Cruises’ general sales agent Light Blue Travel, told Travel Weekly how valuable the trade is to the brand, and she is “confident” the training modules will help to increase confidence selling the ocean product.
Six modules are available covering topics such as an introduction to the line, ocean ship Vasco da Gama and itineraries.
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Each module is video based and includes a quiz at the end, which, upon completion, will provide agents with a certificate.
To incentivise the trade, Nicko Cruises is giving agents the opportunity to earn Love2shop vouchers.
Agents who register will receive a £10 voucher, plus another £20 on completion of all the modules. Agents who then make a booking by December 31 will receive a further £80 voucher.
“Roughly 95% of our business comes through the trade so the trade is exactly where our growth opportunity is and where we should be focusing our energies and investment,” said Daniels.
“Nicko is very much known as a river cruise brand so we have a lot of work to do to build up that confidence but I know we can.
“I want to get as many agents on board as possible but I have to be realistic on the number of cabins that we can accommodate.
“My goal is to free up 20 cabins within the next year to invite a range of agents on board so they can experience the product.”