SEATTLE — Holland America Line has launched new Holland American Line Academy Core Courses, accessible now through the PartnerSHIPS portal at GoHAL.com or halacademy.com.
The award-winning online program features four new courses that cover the brand differentiators and onboard product, destinations, and proven methods to enhance sales. Through interactive and informative training featuring more video, quizzes and fun learning activities, travel agents are able to sell and grow their Holland America Line business.
“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. “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.”
Agents must complete all four courses and pass the exams to be entered to win a seven-day Vikings Saga cruise departing May 5, 2019, on Holland America’s newest Pinnacle-class ship, Nieuw Statendam. The exams must be passed by Sept. 18, 2018 to be entered to win. In addition to the grand prize, 12 monthly winners will be randomly selected to receive a package of special Holland America Line logo items.
Graduates also receive a US$50 shipboard credit that can be redeemed when cruising on a Travel Agent Appreciation or full-fare cruise, personalized and signed updated certificate, 15 CLIA credits, and 12 credits with the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies. New appreciation gifts include Holland America Line luggage tags and a HAL Academy graduate lapel pin.
To retain graduate status, current Holland American Line graduates are required to take the new Core Courses.
The four new courses are as follows:
- Course 101: The Holland America Line Difference. Broken into six modules, this course is designed to educate agents on the brand and its target guest. It details Holland America’s global destinations and itineraries, the service and style that epitomize the brand, entertainment and enrichment programs found onboard, cuisine, and PartnerSHIPS.
- Core Course 102: Destinations & Itinerary Planning. This second course is divided into four modules and delves deeper into Holland America’s worldwide itineraries and how to use the destinations to sell cruises. It covers itinerary planning and guides agents on how to use the line’s EXC Port Planners to find information about each destination.
- Core Course 103: Selling Groups. This five-part module shows agents why group business is beneficial, and offers suggestions on where to find group business and how to promote and sell groups. It also covers how to sell incentives and charters.
- Core Course 104: Secrets of Sales Success. The final course wraps up the program with four modules that reveal the top tips, tricks and secrets to selling premium cruises. Agents will gain insight into client-focused selling, and learn how to communicate with their clients to close the sale and how to build client loyalty.
For more information email sales@hollandamerica.com.
