Celebrity Launches New "Special Agent" Program

Celebrity Cruises has launched the second phase of its Celebrity Special Agent program, an educational incentive program geared toward helping home based travel agents learn more about Celebrity's offerings while improving their bottom line.

The program features Special Agent training, which consists of travel agents entering and completing online training on two key topics: Celebrity's South America and Panama Canal cruises and Celebrity's "Groups 101," a course that teaches ways to earn more money by booking groups.

Participants who complete and pass both training courses will earn a Celebrity Special Agent t-shirt and receive seven entries into a sweepstakes for a cruise for two to South America, Panama Canal or the Caribbean, including airfare and ground transfers.

Travel agents also can earn entries by booking individual or group cruises on South America, Panama Canal or Caribbean itineraries with Celebrity through Aug. 31 (except for cruises on Celebrity Constellation). Each booking added to a group ID will count as an additional entry into the sweepstakes. Groups must be blocked by Aug. 31, but any booking added to an existing group before Nov. 1 will qualify for the additional sweepstakes entry.

Travel agencies also can earn Group Amenities Program (GAP) points during Special Agent Mission Two. All new Caribbean group bookings earn seven GAP points. Travel agencies that already have booked group for Caribbean sailings that haven't yet taken place should contact their Celebrity group advocates to retroactively receive the points. Any travel agent registered with the line's free travel agent web portal, www.cruisingpower.com, can participate, whether or not he or she participated in the first mission.

The link for the promotion is www.cruisingpower.com/booktowin. The Celebrity Special Agent Academy is a series of half-day seminars aimed at engaging participants through interactive, high-impact learning; the opportunity to win prizes; the chance to network with other travel agents; and a surprise indulgence in the Celebrity Treatment brand experience.

Participants can earn 10 CLIA credits by attending the seminar. Ten seminars are still available throughout North America from June through August: Newark, N.J., June 4; Bethesda, Md., June 6; Toronto, Ont., July 11; Cleveland, Ohio, July 13; Denver, July 24; St. Louis, July 26; Phoenix, Aug. 7; King of Prussia, Pa., Aug. 9; Tampa, Fla., Aug. 21; and Fort Lauderdale, Aug. 23.

Travel agents interested in participating should visit www.cruisingpower.com for more information, or contact their Celebrity sales manager. For more information, call 800-437-3111 or visit www.celebritycruises.com.