While Australian cruising wallows in the dark, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia has announced the relaunch of its elite Masters Program in a new online format, allowing travel agent members to advance their sales and marketing skills to the highest level.
The programme has previously offered at sea in an annual on-board at sea conference format, but cannot happen currently as the Federal and State Governments are still procrastinating about the restart of domestic cruising in Australia, with the governments and CLIA keeping secret any progress or even what they are all discussing.
In addition, with Federal Government’s ongoing ban on international travel, Australians cannot travel overseas to join cruises either, therefore, the programme appears to be an investment for some time in the future when cruising in and out of Australia is happening and travel overseas to join cruises is allowed, but with the deafening silence from the decision makers, who are treating the industry and sectors like mushrooms, keeping us and them in the dark, who knows when these elements will happen?
CLIA says that the Masters Program has been redesigned for 2021 to provide a six-week online course that will be offered twice a year, with in the meantime, the programme is open to CLIA member agents who have achieved Ambassador status, with the program providing an opportunity to attain CLIA Cruise Masters status, the highest qualification for CLIA cruise specialists.
CLIA Head of Training & Development Peter Kollar said along with a new format, the program also offered new content including education on data, technology and the evolving online retail environment, adding, “The format and content have taken a direction to reflect our times, but the objective remains the same – to give agents the ability to develop new revenue streams and create a unique brand differentiation,” and “The Masters Program is designed to take agents into an environment beyond mainstream selling, giving them the skills they need to forge a unique position in a competitive retail landscape.”
CLAI says that other aspects of the program include personality and strength assessments, digital and neuromarketing tips, business strategy and planning skills, and insight on how to become integral to clients’ online environment and the program includes a 100-page interactive workbook as well as weekly content, weekly tasks to complete and weekly virtual meetings and reviews.
The CLIA Masters Program will be offered from June 7 and again from September 20, 2021 and after completing the Masters course and assignment, agents will receive 100 accreditation points and enter the prestigious CLIA Cruise Masters ranks with perks including a higher search ranking on the CLIA Australasia website.
A “While Australian cruising wallows in the dark series” report by John Alwyn-Jones, Cruise Editor.
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