ARLINGTON, VA — Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) says its new membership structure has received an enthusiastic welcome by travel agencies and agents.
Unveiled in early October, the three-tiered program offers robust benefits to all member host agencies, consortia and individual travel agents. The highest program level – Premium Diamond – is enjoying strong enrollment and registration by some of the most prestigious North American agencies, said CLIA.
More than 25 of the leading travel companies have joined as Diamond Premium members, representing more than 50,000 agents and reinforcing their commitment to partner with the world’s largest cruise trade association for the benefit of their agents.
Members since the program’s inception include: Automobile Club (AAA) of Southern California, Avoya Travel, Cruises & Tours Unlimited, Cruise Planners, CruiseOne, Cruises Inc., Ensemble Travel, Ensemble Canada, Expedia CruiseShipCenters, Goldrush Getaways, Hyde International Group, Inc., InteleTravel, KHM Travel Group, Mtravel/Montrose Travel, Nexion, Protravel International, Signature Travel Network, Travel Leaders Group (All Aboard Travel, Cruise Deals, Cruise Holidays, Cruise Specialists, Luxury Travel Network, OASIS/Palm Coast Travel, Results! Travel, Travel Leaders, Vacation.com, Vacation.com Canada), Travel Planners International, TRAVELSAVERS, UNIGLOBE Travel, YTB Travel USA, Valerie Wilson Travel, Virtuoso and World Travel Holdings.
“It’s no surprise that we’ve received such an enthusiastic response from the leaders in the travel agency community,” said Christine Duffy, President and CEO, CLIA. “This innovative program was created after extensive research and in close collaboration with the industry’s top travel agencies, cruise lines and agents. We’ve created unmatched membership value, resources, benefits and professional development for all members of the cruise industry.”
CLIA Travel Agency and Agent Membership Program is a comprehensive redesign of CLIA’s agent/agency membership structure. Every membership level includes:
- Access to CLIA’s gold standard training to increase travel agent product knowledge, marketing and sales skills
- Special cruise line benefits – valued at more than $5,000 – for agent members
- Agent bonus commissions
- Reduced rate cruises for agent personal travel
- Priority FAM trip invitations
- Onboard credits for agents and their clients
- Points towards CLIA accreditation.
“Training and education are key elements to be a successful agent and CLIA’s new membership program makes these opportunities more accessible for everyone,” said Drew Daly, general manager of Network Engagement & Performance for CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. “The Diamond program is a dynamic way for agents to supplement their current learning plan and become more involved in the industry.”
The three membership levels for individual agents and agencies include the Silver membership for small agencies (1-24 agents) and new Premium Gold and Diamond memberships for larger category hosts, franchises and consortiums. All programs offer value membership pricing for agents who join as individual members as well as a core benefits package. This includes a unique agent ID number and membership card, hundreds of special offers from 25 CLIA member cruise lines, discounts on CLIA products, bonus commissions, preferred rates and registration at CLIA’s cruise3sixty and access to CLIA’s training and certification.
Additional agent benefits are available based on the corresponding agency membership level. Gold and Diamond membership benefits include invitations to member summits and CLIA’s Annual Congressional Cruise Caucus in Washington, DC.
CLIA cruise lines offering exclusive agent member incentives include AmaWaterways, American Cruise Lines, Avalon Waterways, Azamara Club Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Hurtigruten, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Paul Gauguin Cruises, Pearl Seas Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Seabourn Cruise Line, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea Cruises, Tauck River Cruising, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection and Windstar Cruises.
Program registration opened in October 2014 and is affordably priced for today’s cruise travel professional and agency owner, says CLIA. Information and registration is available at cruising.org/ridethecruisewave.
