Both Holland America Line and Seabourn recently announced updated initiatives to assist the travel agent community.
The respective premium and luxury brands of Carnival Corporation are focusing on new education courses and dedicated team support.
There are four new Holland America Line Academy Core Courses available via the PartnerSHIPS portal at GoHAL.com or halacademy.com. Each feature video, tips, quizzes and other learning activities.
"HAL Academy celebrated its 15th anniversary this year, and it was the perfect time to reenergize our Core Course so travel partners who have graduated from the original program along with those who are new to selling Holland America Line can benefit," said Eva Jenner, vice president, sales, in a press release.
"We've seen a lot of exciting changes to our brand in recent years, but our promise to travel professionals remains the same - we are committed to their success and to being their reliable and easy-to-work-with partner. We are confident that through industry-leading training we can work together to create customers for life with our partners."
As an incentive, agents who finish all four classes and pass the tests will become HAL Academy graduates and be entered to win any 7-day sailing in 2019 aboard the line's upcoming Nieuw Statendam. To qualify, exams must be passed by September 18, 2018. A dozen monthly winners will also be chosen at random to get special Holland America Line logo items.
Graduates will also receive a $50 onboard credit applicable on a Travel Agent Appreciation or full-fare voyage, personalized and signed updated certificate, 15 CLIA credits and eight The Travel Institute credits. New appreciation gifts encompass HAL luggage tags and a HAL Academy graduate lapel pin. In order to maintain status, current graduates must take the new Core Courses.
The new classes are The Holland America Line Difference, Destinations and Itinerary Planning, Selling Groups and Secrets of Sales Success.
-Course 101, The Holland America Line Difference, delves into the brand itself and targeting the right guests, as well as the company's destinations, service, entertainment, enrichment and dining.
-Core Course 102, Destinations & Itinerary Planning, looks at itineraries in greater destination detail and selecting them for their clients. Also covered are the line's EXC Port Planners for better shoreside planning.
-Core Course 103, Selling Groups, focuses on group business specifically, such as where to discover and how to promote and sell it. It also touches on incentives and charters and the line's group support in return.
-Core Course 104, Secrets of Sales Success, outlines tips, tricks and other secrets to closing the sale, including communication, building loyalty and even accessible travel. The most successful in their field share sales suggestions also.
-A 20-year agency veteran, Peggy McNeil, Strategic Key Accounts Manager - Northwest, increases partner knowledge and sales.
-With more than 35 years of experience, Beth Widhson, Strategic Key Accounts Manager of the Northeast, has been the force behind building account growth in the Northeast.
Seabourn also supports professionals by way of the collective Holland America Line & Seabourn Business Development and Inside Sales Team.
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