Putting a priority on travel agent engagement is the main objective of Carnival Cruise Line’s series of 2018 Carnival Conversations. Seven scheduled panel events with brand executives just began in San Antonio, Texas and will continue through November 2018.

“In creating our new series of Carnival Conversations events, we worked closely with agents in developing a format that would maximize their training and development and give them tools they could implement immediately after the event,” said Carnival’s Senior Vice President of Sales & Trade Marketing Adolfo Perez, in a press release.

“This program is richer in content than ever before and is designed to supplement the hundreds of additional field trainings we offer throughout the year.”

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The updated format this year is geared towards more targeted agent training as well as roundtable discussions to gain feedback from partners. Carnival wishes to learn how to best provide sales and service support to agents.

To that end, each event will stage a panel discussion with Carnival executives about sales and marketing techniques focused on technology, group sales and social media, plus general marketing and business acquisition.

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General sessions will end with roundtable breakout ones of up to 10 assigned agents to host specific discussions and gather feedback with Carnival sales team members.

The next Carnival Conversations event is now happening in Austin, Texas with additional ones to follow in Boston, Massachusetts; Miami, Florida; Toronto, Ontario; Orlando, Florida and Providence, Rhode Island.

Agents interested in registering to participate can do so via Carnival Passport at GoCCL.com. There, partners can also see a complete listing of Carnival Conversations training and events.