MIAMI — Carnival is planning no fewer than 100 WUATA Parties for 2020, with the goal of reaching 25 times more consumers with the cruise line’s ‘Why Use a Travel Agent’ message.

The 2020 events are taking place across Canada, the U.S. and the Caribbean. The 100-city schedule is up from just four cities in 2019.

Canadian cities lined up for 2020 are Toronto, London, Ajax, Winnipeg, Calgary, Burnaby, Brossard, Laval and Quebec City.

In July 2019 Carnival hosted its first Canadian WUATA party, in Toronto. Attending travel advisors were encouraged to bring an existing client and a consumer who is a potential client to the event. The same format will apply for the 2020 WUATA parties.

“Last year we found that a WUATA Party is a very effective way to strengthen the relationship between travel advisors and their clients and to help agents recruit new business,” said Adolfo Perez, Carnival’s Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Trade Marketing.

“By taking the 100 Reasons Why Use a Travel Advisor message to 100 cities, we expect to reach thousands more consumers in 2020. This is all part of Carnival’s commitment to deliver the best sales and service experience to travel advisors and their clients.”

Each free-to-attend WUATA Party will be held at a local movie theater from 9:30 to 11 a.m. and will be hosted by the region’s BDM.

Perez will attend as a special guest presenter at a select number of WUATA Parties.

All of the events will include industry insights, product updates, fun activities, classic movie snacks and prize giveaways. All consumers who attend will receive a special Carnival cruise offer from their travel advisor that is only available at a WUATA Party.

The 100 WUATA Parties will also feature a tribute to attendees from armed services who will receive a special acknowledgement and a gift. Carnival sails more active and retired military than any other cruise line and the company says this is an extension of its ongoing commitment to its military guests and their families.

Registration is now open for WUATA Parties in April, May and June. Additional event dates will be posted on GoCCL.com, WUATA.com and Carnival’s trade and WUATA Facebook pages as they are confirmed.

To register, agents should visit GoCCL.com or contact their BDM.

Carnival launched WUATA in March 2019, to raise awareness among consumers of the benefits of booking through a travel agent, and to recognize travel agents for their service and expertise.

As part of the campaign, the 100 Reasons Why Use a Travel Advisor initiative raises awareness about how travel advisors create value for their clients, with the goal of reaching more consumers this year and encouraging them to use a travel advisor.

New for 2020 is the debut of monthly initiatives with 100 new giveaways, events, rewards and more to benefit agents and their clients.

The program’s other current initiative, running through Feb. 29, is the ‘100 Rockin’ Rewards’ booking promotion. Travel advisors can earn 100 bonus reward points for every five bookings they enter in the Loyalty Rocks! Rewards Program, up to 1,000 points.