Written By: Mary Pat Sullivan, Content Director – Travel Weekly Events
Travel professionals today are constantly working to grow their knowledge of the industry, expand their networks, and complete more and more training and certification programs. This year’s CruiseWorld, held November 13-15 in Fort Lauderdale, will offer a plethora of opportunities to do that and more.
For the second year in a row, The Travel Corporation will conduct an afternoon of immersive training on several of their brands on Tuesday, November 12, the day before the official start of the event. TTC brands in attendance will include: African Travel, Brendan Vacations, Contiki, CostSaver, Insight Vacations, Luxury Gold, The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, Trafalgar, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, and U River Cruises. TTC’s goals in conducting this training session are to give travel advisors a keen understanding of their diverse brands, teach advisors how to sell each product, explain how to match products with clients, and educate on the various resources available to grow business with TTC.
The official CruiseWorld program includes three full days of workshops; training and certification programs; and general sessions, featuring leaders from every facet of the travel industry. Wednesday, as always, will include training and certification opportunities from Family Travel Association, Special Needs Group, The Travel Institute, VAX Vacation Access, and more. Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours will sponsor Wednesday evening’s Think Tank, where hundreds of travel advisors have the opportunity to participate in an open discussion about all things travel. Thursday’s line-up includes supplier training sessions from cruise lines, destinations, and others. Friday, fellow travel advisors at the top of their game will lead workshops on various topics such as business best practices, sales and marketing strategies, technology tools and tips, and plans for business growth.
This year’s general sessions will offer attendees the opportunity to hear from more than 40 industry leaders, including cruise line CEOs, Presidents, sales and marketing executives, and more. Travel agency leaders will take the stage to deliver 8-minute TW Talks jam-packed with valuable thought leadership. Representatives in technology will also be there to discuss the changing landscape of the travel industry.
Sponsored meals will include presentations with breaking news, innovative technology, entertainment, and other updates from leading brands, including Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Hurtigruten.
Special events have become a staple of the CruiseWorld experience, and this year is no exception. Carnival Cruise Line will be announcing the winner of their Why Use A Travel Advisor (WUATA) contest live on the CruiseWorld stage! Royal Caribbean will offer entertainment direct from its world-class onboard experiences and more to come. There will also be two days of ship inspections on Saturday and Sunday, November 16 and 17 in both Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Travel advisors will have their choice of the following inspections: Carnival Horizon, Carnival Magic, Carnival Sunrise, Holland America Line Nieuw Amsterdam, Holland America Line Nieuw Statendam, Island Princess, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Seaside, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Sky, Regal Princess, Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas, and Seabourn Sojourn, which will be available exclusively to participants of the STAR Program.
The signature one-day Exhibitor Showcase will be held on Thursday, November 14 with companies representing diverse segments of the travel industry including, airlines, attractions, business tools, car rental, cruise, destinations, host agencies, consortia, and franchises, hotels and resorts, professional services, tour operators and packaged vacations and more. Suppliers interested in joining the Exhibitor Showcase should contact Emmy Morales at emorales@travelweekly.com.
Applications are now being accepted for CruiseWorld’s STAR (Select Travel Advisor Recognition) Program. As part of Travel Weekly’s ongoing commitment to supporting the professional development and growth of the travel advisor community, this program will help fund attendance for approximately 250 of the more than 800 travel advisor attendees at CruiseWorld. The program is structured to provide enhanced event programming while offsetting some of the financial expenses incurred by travel advisors to attend professional development events.
The core component of the STAR Program is a series of collaborative meetings between exhibiting suppliers and pre-qualified, travel advisors committed to business growth. Advisors who qualify for the STAR Program, and who are selected to participate, receive complimentary registration and complimentary hotel accommodation for two nights. Specific participation requirements are detailed on the CruiseWorld website at www.cruiseworldshow.com/star. Traditional registration opportunities are available for those who do not wish to apply for the STAR Program.
Whether attending as a STAR Program participant or a traditional attendee, CruiseWorld’s robust programming provides value for all types of travel advisors, from the home-based professional to the cruise-centered advisors, the seasoned veterans and those new to the industry. Register today and receive $25 off the current registration price using code HBTA at checkout.
It is important to note that the team from Travel Professional News are an integral part of the CruiseWorld program. Andy Ogg and Joanie Ogg will both be leading breakout sessions and participating in the exhibitor showcase.
For more information on Travel Weekly’s CruiseWorld, the ship inspection roster, and the STAR Program, visit www.cruiseworldshow.com.