CRUISE LINES INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION INTRODUCES NEW TRAINING SEMINAR, VIDEO IN 2004

A new training seminar and video are among the tools the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is introducing in 2004 to help travel agents increase their cruise-selling skills.

“The new sales-skills tools deal with subjects – local public relations and home-based cruise sellers – that led the list of topics agents said they would like to see addressed,” says Terry L. Dale, CLIA’s president and chief executive officer. “Because we at CLIA also recognize the importance of these two areas, we have developed programs that we firmly believe will help agents succeed.”

The first tool is a new classroom seminar, “Local Public Relations Techniques: How to Maximize Your Agency’s Visibility,” which debuts during the first quarter of 2004. The seminar is designed to teach agents how to become “celebrities” in the cruise-selling business by increasing their visibility – both personal and the agency’s – in their local marketplace. Agents can also discover dozens of low- or no-cost public relations techniques that will enhance their promotional strategies.

“The new seminar is designed to help both individual agents and agencies promote themselves on a local level,” says Tom Cogan, CLIA’s director of training.

The cost for one seminar is $35 for CLIA agency members and associates, $47.50 for non-members. If two or more persons from an agency attend, the cost per person per workshop is $30 for members and $40 for non-members.

CLIA has also produced a new video dealing with home-based cruise sellers. The video is ideal agents selling cruises from home, those thinking about becoming a home-based agent or anyone curious about how a home-based travel business works. The video also offers insights for managers working with home-based agents.

“There has been an enormous growth in the number of ‘outside agents’ and ‘independent contractors’ – agents operating home-based businesses as a ‘franchise’ of an agency network or through contracts with one or more retail travel agency locations – in recent years,” says Dale. “The video will be beneficial to these agents as well as their CLIA-member agencies.”

In the video, Dr. Marc Mancini, a highly respected travel educator, consultant and speaker, takes viewers on an exploration of the fast-growing trend of home-based travel selling. Among the topics discussed are the advantages of working at home; the challenges of working at home; tips on how to satisfy government requirements; how to best work with suppliers; which technologies to use; and how to maintain an efficient home office.

The new video is included in CLIA’s 2004 Membership Kits and is the 14th video in CLIA’s sales skills video library. Each video offers a convenient way to train new agents or refresh veterans’ skills at home or in the office. Successfully passing a test on the video’s content earns the agent 10 certification credits.

Videos are available for $19.95 each, or $14.95 when purchasing two or more. A special 10-video value pack is available for $99. Orders may be faxed (with payment information) to 212-921-0549. To request additional order forms, call CLIA's Fax by Phone service at 800-372-CLIA (2542).