Riviera Travel will reintroduce one-day fam trips in spring as the operator aims to increase its exposure to trade partners and become a “one-stop shop” for agents.
The operator introduced the trips before the pandemic where up to 40 agents would fly to destinations such as Paris or Amsterdam, spend a day on board a ship and have lunch before flying back.
However, the last trips took place in 2019 and have not yet been reintroduced.
More: Riviera Travel adds three 10-night river cruises to 2024 schedule
Paul Mellon, sales development manager, told Travel Weekly the day trips worked well as they catered for agents who were unable to commit to a week-long fam trip and increased the number of trade partners that could experience the product.
He expects the first trips will take place in spring, with more to follow later in the year.
“The day fam trips were brilliant as we could get around 40 agents on board on any one day which gave us great exposure and gave agents the chance to experience what we had to offer,” he said.
“Some agents have children and they can’t take a whole week off to come on a seven-day fam trip, so this is a great alternative.
“We are hoping to do five trips in the spring time and some additional ones later in the year. We don’t want to run them during the busy periods as agents are swamped and the ships are full so we will offer them in the low season or the shoulder season.”
Head of trade sales Tom Morgan told Travel Weekly the fam trips will support Riviera Travel’s goal of becoming a “one-stop shop” for all agents selling river cruise and escorted touring.
“Agents are amazing at selling our river cruises but we’re not always front of mind when they are thinking about escorted tours and we want that to change,” he said.
“Trade engagement is so important for us and we need to be on hand to educate agents so they have all the tools they need to sell our products.
“A lot of people joined the travel industry over the last year or so and they might not know much about us so we want to get in front of them, run training days and ultimately be a one-stop shop for them with all the materials they need to sell our cruises and tours.
“We are not expecting this to happen overnight, but certainly within the next 12-18 months we are determined to push hard, support agents and achieve our goals.”