Carnival steps up its support for agents
GREG COATES
Carnival Cruise Line continues to expand its year-long “Why Use a Travel Advisor,” or WUATA, program dedicated to promoting the value of travel agents.
Originally launched in May, Carnival has now expanded the program with the launch of WUATA.com, a WUATA brochure and an exclusive WUATA Facebook page.
According to Adolfo Perez, Carnival’s senior vice-president of sales and trade marketing, the new initiatives are the industry’s first consumer-focused efforts that are 100% dedicated to telling the story of the value of using a travel advisor.
“We’re really stepping it up in supporting agents,” Perez told Canadian Travel Press, adding the cruise industry wouldn’t be where it is today without them.
“WUATA.com, WUATA Facebook and the WUATA brochure are the first-of-their-kind tools created with consumers in mind to reinforce the value of Why Use a Travel Advisor. This is an incredible opportunity to reach thousands of new potential clients, and we look forward to agents sharing these resources with customers, prospects, friends and everyone they know to help raise awareness that travel agents rock!”
Carnival created these new communications tools for travel advisors, their clients and potential clients to share real-life experiences and to illustrate the many ways an agent can be an indispensable resource for travellers. The content on both sites and the brochure supports the sentiment of Why Use a Travel Advisor, which can be a powerful tool for new client acquisition, as well as building existing clients’ loyalty.
Perez noted that there’s a lot of cruise product out there, and agents help differentiate the lines for clients.
“Putting the right person on the right ship and on the right itinerary [is crucial],” he said. “If it’s done right, you have a good chance of securing a life-time cruiser.”
WUATA.com features research and facts from Cruise Lines International Association and American Society of Travel Advisors about why consumers should book with a travel advisor; authentic client testimonials lauding their travel agent; a link to the enhanced Carnival Travel Agent Finder; and WUATA Contest, where clients can nominate their agent to compete to be Carnival’s “Most Trusted Travel Advisor.”
On the WUATA Facebook page, found at Facebook.com/CCLWUATA, consumers can find useful news and a link to the Carnival Travel Agent Finder. The story of WUATA will be told organically on the Facebook page, as clients and potential clients share stories and experiences about their rock star agents.
The WUATA brochure reinforces the differentiated value that advisors provide in a multi-page format that agents can share with clients to help close sales. A digital version of the WUATA brochure will be available on WUATA.com, and advisors can order print copies on GoCCL.com in July.
Carnival has added Toronto to its lineup for the popular “Why Use a Travel Advisory (WUATA) Party” event series.
Toronto’s WUATA Party will take place on July 24 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with the exact locations to be confirmed. Agents are encouraged to invite one client and one soon-to-be client to enjoy an evening of fun and conversation focused on increasing consumer awareness of Why Use a Travel Advisor.
Each party features cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, fun activities, a special offer and Carnival cruise giveaways where clients can win a cruise and advisors get commission on that cruise.
Agents can register themselves and their clients for the Toronto WUATA Party by visiting www.GoCCL.com.