UK: Travel Counsellors ramp up support and training events as cruise sales soar
Leading independent travel company, Travel Counsellors, has recorded a 60 per cent increase in cruise sales in April and May 2022, compared to the same months in 2019.
The travel company has also boosted its cruise specific training and launched a new ‘Set Sail’ toolkit for agents.
This positive news follows the recent CLIA Conference in Southampton, which saw a record attendance from Travel Counsellors, demonstrating their passion and commitment to enhancing cruise sales. TCs (Travel Counsellors) also have access to all CLIA training events, free-of-charge, as they all receive a CLIA membership when becoming franchisees.
Travel Counsellors has also experienced a 15 per cent increase in cruise sales from November 2021 to April 2022 – a growth that is being particularly driven by premium (+31 percent) and luxury (+22 percent) cruise lines. Together with these, the travel company has also seen an increase in expedition cruise sales this year and predicts a good winter for Caribbean cruises.
Since travel restrictions lifted earlier this year, Travel Counsellors has been offering its TCs a plethora of unique cruise specific training, such as ‘TC Together’ events and ‘take over’ days – with more to come in June, including cruise roadshows in Manchester (22 June), Birmingham (28 June) and London (30 June). All these events are aimed at getting Travel Counsellors to fully immerse themselves in the cruise customer offering and build relationships with cruise partners, delivering added value and knowledge to their customers.
Last month, Travel Counsellors also launched a new digital cruise guide called ‘Set Sail’ – a new tool where TCs can find all the information and advice they need to book cruises with confidence. The travel company currently works with over 40 cruise suppliers across all areas, including river, ocean, expedition, family, luxury, solo, group and multi-generational.
Janet Whittingham, Head of Cruise at Travel Counsellors, said: “We are so passionate about cruise. Following the record-breaking leisure sales experienced by Travel Counsellors over the last few months, the cruise market is not falling behind and we are pleased to see that sales have increased 60 per cent in April and May. Luxury and expedition cruises are the most popular choices at the moment – especially Caribbean cruises. Looking at 2023, we predict that Alaska, Australia and New Zealand cruises will make a strong comeback, together with family cruising.”
Janet also adds: “CLIA 2022 has been a great opportunity for our TCs, demonstrating how we work collaboratively with our over 40 cruise suppliers. Our TCs have been able to have conversations with cruise suppliers – all of whom are so very interested in our TCs’ opinions. Due to the volume of CLIA events combined with our bespoke and comprehensive training schedule, our TCs are dominant specialists within the cruise sector. It was wonderful to see everyone coming together across the cruise industry, and gives us renewed confidence that we’ll all navigate the next few years together.”
More than 81 TCs attended the CLIA Conference in Southampton last weekend, including Janet Whittingham, Head of Cruise; Ben Calderbank, Digital Learning Lead; and new graduate, Hannah Shaw, from Travel Counsellors.
They were able to meet cruise suppliers face-to-face, many for the first time, providing an invaluable and informative training for both cruise experts and those new to cruise. The day prior to the CLIA Conference, 52 Travel Counsellors attended an exclusive training event and dinner with luxury cruise brand – Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
· Cruise sales 60 per cent up in April and May 2022 compared to 2019
· Premium/luxury and expedition cruises prove the most popular choices
· 81 TCs attended the recent CLIA Conference in Southampton
· Exclusive training event with Regent Seven Seas Cruises for 52 TCs
· Travel Counsellors launches new ‘Set Sail’ toolkit for agents
