Celebrity Cruises’ sales managers are handing out “mystery envelopes” filled with prizes to agents who have “gone above and beyond” for the line.
The line said agents who make their first Celebrity booking, an “outstanding” sale, produce a successful social media campaign or receive good client feedback will be in with a chance of a visit.
Agents who are visited by a sales manager can choose an envelope with one of more than 100 prizes, including money to spend on a team lunch, Celebrity Rewards points and branded items.
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Depending on the colour of the envelope, agents could win a place for themselves and a colleague to attend Celebrity’s upcoming Seminar at Sea event this year.
The event will be held on Celebrity Apex, which will homeport in Southampton next year, and is part of the line’s commitment to invite 600 travel agents to experience its vessels.
As part of the Celebrity Moments campaign, agents can earn up to £1,500 via the line’s Celebrity Rewards platform in prize draws.
The prize draws will reward 50 agents who have made 10 or more bookings with £500 each, followed by a second draw in which 25 agents with 20 or more bookings can win £1,000 each.
Celebrity Cruises UK and Ireland sales director Claire Stirrup (pictured) said: “We’ve shaped this year’s wave campaign around feedback from our travel agent panels.
“Agents told us that they value rewards being accessible to all agents, including new starters who are so vital to the growth of the industry.
“That’s why this year, we’re giving even more opportunities to earn cash prizes, and experience important in-person training opportunities.
“We’ve got an exciting few years to come with our widest ever range of seven-night European sailings in the summer 2023 season, as well as our most ambitious season of sailings for 2024- 2025, including Celebrity Apex sailing from UK shores.”
She added: “With travel agents telling us clients are looking to book holidays further in advance, we look forward to continuing to help them maximise these opportunities now.”
Agents will receive £5 when making Inside or Oceanview room bookings, £10 for Balcony, Concierge or Aquaclass bookings and £20 when booking in The Retreat or for sailings in the Galapagos Islands.
To support new agents, coming into the industry for the first time, the line is offering a £25 bonus per booking for the first five bookings they make.
Celebrity Cruises training manager Leon Hand is releasing a ‘Conversations with Celebrity’ podcast on January 11 in which he speaks to Dondra Ritzenthaler, senior vice-president of sales, The Americas.
The pair will discuss sales tips for agents to maximise their bookings.
Hand will also be on the road delivering face-to-face new starter training for agents.