Carnival Debuts New Travel Partner Toolbox for Agents

Carnival Debuts New Travel Partner Toolbox for Agents
By Theresa Norton Masek
Carnival Cruise Lines has created a new virtual Travel Partner Toolbox designed to help travel agents easily access trade support and sales-boosting resources through the line’s travel agent portal at www.GoCCL.com.
The site was created with travel agent feedback and with guidance from Carnival’s travel partner advisory committee. The tool box offers an agent reward program, a centralized area for product updates, revised group deposit policies, new hard copy marketing materials and more.
“Over the last several months, we’ve met with thousands of travel partners and heard loud and clear that we needed better sales and marketing tools and easier access to existing tools while incorporating a little more fun into the overall sales process,” said Joni Rein, vice president of worldwide sales.
New features include a rewards program, giving agents the opportunity to earn and redeem points toward Carnival-branded gifts, gift cards, and Apple iPads. Points are earned by creating new bookings and servicing existing bookings on GoCCL.com, completing Carnival Cruise Lines University training, attending fams and ship visits and other resources.
Other components of the tool box include product updates, a centralized place for agents to easily find information on new ship details and features, itinerary changes and more. This area also features a new “interactive itineraries” section, where agents can click on a Carnival departure point and get details regarding sailings from that port.
Carnival also will offer agents more marketing tools. After a soft-launch earlier this year, the line is officially rolling out its “Cruise Party in a Box” kit filled with items for an at-home selling party. It includes two new hard-copy tools: “FUN-damentals,” a tri-fold marketing piece filled with information on ships, destinations and itineraries; and “FUN-Decks,” a new deck plan tool. Additional resources include BizBuilder, e-brochures and marketing videos.
In addition, Carnival has a new group deposit program. Based on feedback from travel agents, Carnival is changing its group deposit policy of $25 per person from 30 to 60 days after blocking space for most itineraries. For large groups, the line is simplifying the terms of deposit regardless of ship, cruise length or itinerary.
In addition, Carnival is introducing new penalty guidelines if a large group modification is made before 240 days prior to sailing, an added convenience for travel partners and their clients. Carnival also has created a dedicated Trade Engagement Team, which offers specific tips on how to grow their business and answers sales questions through calls and emails.
The Carnival Cruise Lines University (CCLU) online training course has been updated with new information. Even if agents have earned their Bachelor’s of Fun degree, the new chapter can serve as a refresher and will earn reward points for the agent.