CruiseWorld Offers 3 Full Days of Certifications, Supplier Training and Peer to Peer Learning

Written By: Mary Pat Sullivan, Content Director, CruiseWorld

 

 

The full roster of general sessions, ship inspections, 30 workshop options and industry certification programs are now available online at www.cruiseworldshow.com.

 

Nearly two dozen leaders from the cruise and vacation market will take the stage to address the 800 plus travel professional attendees. With a continued rise in recognition and importance of the travel professional in booking coveted leisure vacations, the executives are more anxious than ever to share their stories and get to know the CruiseWorld attendees and garner their respect and their bookings!

 

Programming will kick off with a high-energy, star-studded Mastermind Panel of leaders in sales and marketing from all the major cruise lines. This will set the bar for the three-day event, designed to spark excitement, ideas and peer power for 2018 and beyond. The top three CEOs, representing nearly 90 percent of cruise berths in the world, will take the stage each day for a conversation with Travel Weekly Editor Arnie Weissmann. Presidents of the major lines, leaders from all the major host agencies, and leaders from the river cruise and wholesale segments will join spirited panel discussions.

 

“The general session content is a chance for the industry’s leadership to talk directly to those selling their products and servicing their customers. Being able to bring their voices to our attendees is an important part of recognizing the power and professionalism of today’s travel sellers,” said Arnie Weissmann, Editor-in-chief of Travel Weekly.

 

Three days of workshops will allow attendees to earn CLIA credits, Special Needs Group certification, Travel Institute certifications and gain hands-on workshop training from nearly a dozen suppliers. Travel advisor peers will lead a series of workshops on topics, including market specialties such as destination weddings, business decisions such as charging service fees, adding independent contractors, and tapping new markets like incentive travel and meetings on cruise ships. All peer-to-peer session leaders are proven, successful agency owners. “Wanting to see the business of our peers succeed is why we come and share our secrets to success. A strong industry is critical for all of our futures and we know how hard it is to service our clients, run our businesses, gain recognition and support from suppliers, and stay relevant in a constantly changing environment,” said Geoff Millar, co-owner of Ultimate All-Inclusive Travel. “I can’t wait to be with my fellow travel pros and learn from them too.”

 

This year’s Travel Weekly CruiseWorld event, November 15 to 17 in Fort Lauderdale, enables attendees to experience, first hand, one of the top three most important cruise ports in the country that generated $30 billion in business in 2016. A total of eight ship inspection opportunities are available at both Fort Lauderdale and Miami ports.

 

This year, CruiseWorld is once again offering its Select Travel Advisor Recognition (STAR) program. The core component of the STAR Program is a series of business connections scheduled between exhibiting suppliers and prequalified travel advisors committed to business growth. Selected advisors will receive complimentary registration and hotel accommodation for two nights. Those spots are filling quickly, with more than half already committed.

 

Visit www.cruiseworldshow.com for more information and to register. Use code HBTA at checkout to receive $25 off the current registration rate.