They're one quick route to making serious money as a travel agent.
But, selling cruise groups isn't easy, is it?
They require LOTS of work, with tons of details and deadlines. Cruise line group policies can be very confusing. And, your commissions may be nickeled and dimed to death!
Plus, it's hard to know where to turn for advice and ideas for getting your cruise group business off the ground ...
That's why - as 2013 approaches fast! - we've organized a brand-new online training conference for travel agents who're serious about learning the secrets of selling cruise groups!
Scheduled for Monday, Sept. 24, this conference will include three 45-minute seminars led by top trainers and experts from Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, and Royal Caribbean who'll share their insider secrets for setting up your travel business to manage cruise group bookings,
identifying the best prospects, making the initial approaches to them, locking in group contracts, and boosting your commissions from these sales!
And, here's the very best part: This conference is free.
There's no charge for any of these training seminars, and you can invite as many agent friends and colleagues to join you as you wish.
Here's a rundown of what we'll be covering (you can sign up for a single seminar, two of them, or all three sessions):
Session # 1 (1 pm-1.45 pm ET/10 am-10.45 am PT) "The Basic Building Block of Cruise Groups" Dave Stockert - Director of National Accounts (retired), Holland America Line
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Why you should focus on selling cruise groups
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The extra profits you can make working with cruise groups
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How many passengers make a "group" with different cruise lines
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The different types of cruise groups, from per-capita "spec" groups and pre-formed affinity groups
to meetings and incentives, weddings at sea, and charters -
How to find the most promising, profitable cruise group prospects -
and build a pipeline for steady bookings for years to come
Session # 2 (2 pm-2.45 pm ET/11 am-11.45 am PT) "Pitching, Closing, and Filling Cruise Groups" Alicia Steuart - Director of Home Based Partnerships, Carnival Cruise Lines
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Why you should rate and sort your cruise group prospects to identify
the best targets to approach first -
How to start the conversation and make the initial approach to potential cruise group leaders
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The differences between cruise group proposals and cruise group contracts -
and the key elements that must be in each one -
How to make effective group presentations to generate cabin bookings immediately
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The best promotional avenues to use when you're filling the final cabins in a cruise group block
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The essential forms and schedules you should collect and set up for every cruise group -
from the master group list to binders with cabin assignments and onboard requests -
What critical dates you should focus on as each cruise group builds and departs
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The best options for handling air travel with cruise group clients
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How to use your group amenity points (GAPs) wisely
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How to avoid problems with deposit and payment dates
(and the policies enforced by your cruise line partners) -
The dos and don'ts of working with tour conductor credits
Here's the registration page to reserve your spot in these seminars. Get ready for 2013 by learning how to boost your profits by selling more cruise groups with the help of our experts!
By the way, mark your calendars now for the next conference we're planning:
"Faith-Based Travel 101" (scheduled for Wed., Oct. 10 with Globus and Unitours)!