The head of Hays Travel’s cruise division has urged all sales staff in the business to achieve Clia’s Ambassador-level certification in selling cruise by Christmas.
Catriona Parsons said the target covered all staff in the retailer’s high street shops and homeworking divisions, thought to number more than 2,000 employees.
Trade association Clia estimates that secondary level Ambassador certification takes 10 hours to complete.
Clia says Ambassador certification “adds to the knowledge that a learner will have already achieved in its level 1 introduction to cruise sales accredited certification”.
Agents must choose 10 elective modules from the 27 destination and specialist modules available, plus register for three ship visits with Clia cruise line members.
Parsons said: “Since March, our cruise business has increased. We’re asking all people to get to Ambassador level by Christmas as this will help them sell cruise.
“It’s part of a huge push on cruise. We’re absolutely smashing it and I believe we’re outperforming the market – that is what suppliers are telling me.”
Parsons added 97% of Hays’ agents and homeworkers currently sell cruise holidays.
Asked why cruise sales were soaring, she said: “The ‘seacation’ sailings in the pandemic really got cruise in the spotlight. It allowed us to talk to different parts of the database and it made people look as cruise holidays as an option.”
Parsons also highlighted the impact of “keen” pricings on demand. “A lot of the suppliers have brought the pricing down for ex-UK and Med cruises,” she added. “Prices for children are amazing.”
She confirmed plans to increase the number of charter flights to the Caribbean to join P&O Cruises voyages in 2024-25.
In 2022 and 2023, Hays will charter 12 flights to the region.
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