Carnival Cruise Line plans to host virtual trade training sessions for agents next month to help boost bookings and brand knowledge ahead of the peak ‘wave’ sales period.
Gemma Ashworth, senior account manager, UK and international, has already held “dozens” of meetings with cruise specialists such as Cruise1st, Hays Travel and Cruise118, since early September.
Head of international sales Luke Smith (pictured) said he wants the rest of his sales team to offer the same service to every type of agent from December 1.
The daily Carnival Drop-in sessions will last 20 minutes, between 10am to 2pm, and focus on staff training, product advice or marketing, according to Smith, who added: “The agents can literally ask to talk about anything Carnival-related.”
He said: “Ultimately, we want to make ourselves available to the trade after 18 months where so many agents have been on furlough.
“I want to make these sessions available as we work up to the busiest sales period, so agents have all the tools that they need to sell Carnival.”
Smith pointed to recent research released by WTM which found that half of Britons want to take two or more holidays in 2022.
“We heard at the recent Clia’s Selling Cruise Day that there’s so much pent-up demand and people will be taking at least two holidays next year,” he said.
“We want to convert at least one of those holidays to a Carnival cruise.”
Agents can email Carnival Cruise Line with a time and date they are available to talk with one of the line’s UK sales team next month.
To book a Carnival Drop-In session next month, agents must email dropin@carnival.com