Carnival Knows and Shows How Travel Agents Rock

Adolfo M. Perez joined Carnival Cruise Line in 1982 as an embarkation agent, moving up the ladder over the years to his current position as vice president of sales and trade marketing. With 35 years of experience at Carnival, he knows the company inside and out.

And he’s making waves with unique, fun events and programs for travel advisors. (He even got a tattoo in their honor!)

We caught up with Perez to find out more about his agent-related activities.

Travel Pulse: Earlier this year, you held the first-ever “Agentpalooza” bus tour to meet travel agents in Houston, New Orleans, Charleston, Atlanta, Jacksonville and Orlando. Why did you do this and what did you get out of it?

Adolfo Perez: My team and I have been working on this concept since I first started this job in June of 2015. Our goal was to get out and meet as many agents in person as we could and celebrate their support of Carnival and their success by treating them as rock stars.

We exceeded our expectations and had the opportunity to connect and engage with almost 2,000 agents across the six cities. We spent time with them talking about business, dancing and having fun like only Carnival can deliver. We also raised over $10,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Miami as well as collected hundreds of pounds of food for local food banks. It was a huge success on all fronts for us.

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TP: You showed travel agents how important they are when you got a tattoo that says “Travel Agents Rock” in New Orleans. Why did you make such a big commitment?

AP: When I reflect back on my life, travel agents have always been part of who I am. Since I was 16 years old, I have worked in this amazing business, which was created by the support of travel agents.

Everything I own, every experience I’ve had, and my ability to support my family are all tied back to travel agents in one way or another. So, to me, it was a way to honor that very special connection I have with our travel agent partners.

TP: You kept the momentum going with the “Agentpalooza Rockin’ Moments” contest on your trade Facebook page. You awarded Amazon gift cards to agents who correctly answered questions about the “Agentpalooza” tour. Does that help agents keep in touch and really learn about the product?

AP: Every time we have a contest on our trade Facebook page, agents love it. They enjoy connecting, sharing their thoughts and answering questions. We’re all communicators in this business!

From our Carnival anniversary throwback photos last March to the videos from Agentpalooza, these sharable moments spark a sense of community. And everyone loves giveaways and prizes!

So, while it may not train agents directly on the product, it engages them in a positive way by letting everyone in on the fun.

TP: Are you planning another bus tour later this year or next year?

AP: Agentpalooza was such a success that we’d be crazy not to consider doing this again.

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TP: Why did you organize the Sept. 1-30 “Amp Up Commission Challenge,” which gives agents the chance to increase their commission up to 15 percent if they meet booking goals in September?

AP: My job—and my commitment to the trade—is to be their advocate at Carnival. I take this responsibility very seriously. In the quest to deliver on my promise, I am always looking for ways to help travel agents be more profitable and for us to be a better partner.

This promotion was designed to give agents an opportunity to set their commission rate for the month of September by hitting very reasonable booking goals. We’ve had over 800 travel partners register for the program, and I’m looking forward to writing a big check in October.

TP: Do you plan to do more promotions that boost commission rates?

AP: Stay tuned, that’s all I can say.

TP: If you could give one piece of advice on what a travel agent should do to sell more Carnival cruises, what would it be?

AP: Carnival is a great choice for first-time cruisers. There are millions of Americans who consider cruising, but never quite make it across the gangway because they have misconceptions about cruising.

To help you sell more Carnival cruises and convince those who are reluctant to cruise, we are the only cruise line to offer the Great Vacation Guarantee.

This program guarantees that your clients will love their cruise or get 110 percent of the cruise fare back, a flight home from the first port of call and an onboard credit for a future cruise, no questions asked. We also protect your commission. The full details of the program can be found on GoCCL.com.

It’s truly the best guarantee you’ll never need.