Peer-to-Peer Sessions
sponsored by Holland America Line
Registration for Peer-to-Peer Sessions will open on August 22nd. Please be on the lookout for an email from the CruiseWorld team.
10:30-11:00am
Reframing Accessibility
Accessibility is perhaps the most misunderstood area of travel. With somewhere between 19-26% of individuals diagnosed with a disability, accessibility affects everyone. Come learn from an industry expert about common myths concerning those with disabilities, and how to welcome in travelers looking for accessible destinations. Accessible travel is a $57.4 billion market, and we cannot afford to overlook it. In this session, I will give you 5 questions you need to be asking all travelers, as well as tools to needed to make sure that your clients are adequately accommodated.
Presented by Kristy Durso, Owner, Incredible Memories Travel
Why Selling Diverse Tour Products & Experiences Should Be a Priority for Sellers of Travel
The 2022 National Travel & Tourism Strategy includes supporting the development and marketing of diverse tourism products and experiences across the United States to domestic and international travelers. Brand USA's recent Multicultural Multiplier Cultural Diversity Study confirms a global demand for diverse tour products and experiences such as Black cultural heritage tours and Native American experiences. How can sellers of travel get prepared and positioned to offer new diverse tourism products and experiences to clients? What tools are available to help promote and sell niche products and experiences? Come join the conversation!
Presented by Stephanie Jones, Founder & CEO, Cultural Heritage Alliance for Tourism, Inc.
Enhancing Travel Services and Customer Experiences with GPT Chat
Learn to explore how GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) chat can revolutionize your travel services and elevate customer experiences. By leveraging this powerful technology, you can effectively manage your time, automate repetitive tasks, and provide prompt responses to common inquiries, allowing you to focus on delivering personalized interactions that leave a lasting impression on your clients.
Presented by Sanya Weston, CEO, Your Premier Travel Service Group
Discover the Secret to High-Performance Travel Group Sales
Are you ready to take your travel group sales to the next level? The secret to high-performance travel group sales and unlocking the possibilities of exponential growth in travelers and extraordinary revenues is in this masterclass. Position yourself and your team at the highest level of competency with our chart-topping strategies, sharp techniques, and stellar plans. Turn those dream trips into captivating adventures, with exceptional organization and remarkable experiences. Receive all the advice you need to boost levels of performance in a recognizable way that wins positively for travelers and suppliers alike. Gear up and gain those bountiful results brought about through sophisticated insights gathered from years in the trade.
Presented by Angela Hughes, Owner, Trips & Ships Luxury Travel
Your Home Office - Maximizing Your Productivity, Functionality & Comfort
Working from home as a travel professional can be a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a flexible work schedule while helping others plan their dream vacations. However, it is crucial to have a well-designed home office that meets your needs, maximizes your productivity and provides you the comfort and ambiance you deserve. Hours and hours of your time will be spent in your home office. Designing and setting up your work space is paramount to your success
Whether you are a new Travel Professional or have years of experience, a home office creation or renovation can spawn an exciting new routine and increase your productivity. Let’s dive into the key things to consider and pay attention to when creating your home office!
Join Joanie Ogg, CTC, MCC as she shares her insights, experiences and tips about the importance of a professional workspace as a Travel Professional and how to maximize your days when working from your home office!.
Presented by Joanie Ogg, Founder/Co-Owner, Travel Professional News
12:00-12:30pm
Diving Into Charters: The Process & The Profit
Have you been pondering chartering a small ship in Croatia or the Caribbean, but hesitant to take the plunge? Or perhaps you wish to host a large group on the Rhine and are unsure if chartering is the way to go. You do not need hundreds of clients to host a successful (and profitable) charter. In fact, charters can be extremely profitable with less than 20 couples! This class goes over the basics: including setting up the charter, pricing to sell, and marketing. All of which are fundamentals you can use whether on land or at sea.
Presented by Suzy Schreiner, Owner, Azure Blue Vacations
Connection and Calm in the Midst of Chaos
Can we agree that travel is a bit chaotic these days? We are working harder than ever before. Let's face it, we didn't sign up to be firefighters! No matter how hard we try, we just can't control every single detail of our client's travel plans. When things go as planned...we celebrate the victories! But what about when things don't go as planned? Do you struggle with how to communicate with unhappy and irrational clients? Are you frustrated by constant itinerary and flight changes? Are you up at night thinking about your never-ending task list or wondering what disaster awaits you the next day? If so, this workshop is perfect for you. You'll come away with strategies to manage those difficult clients, constant unknowns, interruptions, distractions and disruptions. You'll learn to make meaningful connections with your clients, suppliers, and colleagues, and that feeling of chaos that consumes you will soon turn to calm.
Presented by Christen Perry, Owner, Classic Travel Connection
The Power of Branding
Every brand has a story to tell. What is yours? Is your brand crisp, clean, and effective? Or is it poorly designed, needs work, and has trouble standing out in the industry. Your story is everything - tell it. In this session come hear the ins and the outs of how branding can change the game for your organization.
Presented by Adam Duckworth, President and Founder, Travelmation
Navigating Succession Planning: Securing the Future of Your Travel Agency
As the owner of a thriving travel agency, planning for the future is essential to ensure the long-term success and sustainability of your business. This peer-to-peer discussion revolves around the critical topic of succession planning, highlighting the personal journey of our speaker who successfully facilitated the transition of their family’s business to the next generation and trusted successor. Join this engaging discussion to secure the future of your travel agency and leave a lasting legacy in the industry.
Presented by Sanya Weston, CEO, Your Premier Travel Service Group
11:15-11:45am
Building Creative Cruise/Land Itineraries
Maximize and round out your cruise bookings for individuals and groups; this session explores creative pre/post land package add-ons that can be as or more profitable than the cruise component. With airfare being the biggest cost driver, provide options to stay longer, explore more and experience more. We’ll discuss sample itineraries and how to position the expanded land packages with your clients and prospects.
Presented by Debbie Brown, Owner, SB World Luxe Travel
Lessons Learned from a Seasoned Agency Owner
Are you a travel agency owner looking to take your business to new heights? Join this workshop where speaker Jade Monzo, seasoned agency owner with 60+ ICs, shares a wealth of industry experience gained from the daily ins and outs of booking and servicing clients. The workshop will focus on:
Specialization for Success: Discover the power of travel specialization and how it can unlock hidden potential for your business. Learn how to define your target audience through specialization.
Social Media Mastery: Harness the potential of social media to grow your business exponentially. By focusing on best practices and organic growth, you can maximize your impact without spreading yourself too thin.
Client Security: Protect your business from potential fraud and client-related challenges. By sharing red flags to look out for when booking unfamiliar clients, you’ll be empowered with the knowledge to safeguard your agency and provide a secure experience for your customers.
Presented by Jade Monzo, Owner, Rope Drop Travel
Exploring Kindness and Well-Being in your Travel Business with ALG Vacations®
ALG Vacations® is honored to be a part of CruiseWorld. Moreover, we are passionate about spreading kindness, and we’ll be discussing why this philosophy lies at the heart of everything we do. As part of this workshop, you’ll have the incredible opportunity to meet with our Wellness Guru—David Pritchard—and together, we’ll craft your personalized 2024 Kindness Contract, while ensuring your personal health and wellness are fully nurtured throughout your travel and beyond. Let’s embark on a journey of exploration, kindness and well-being together!
Presented by Lisa Doss, Director of Sales, ALG Vacations; Victoria Redwine, Business Development Manager, ALG Vacations; David Pritchard, ALG Health & Well-Being Coach
Sponsored by:
