Travel Agent Initiatives
A key factor in the cruise industry’s growth is its travel agent partners. Duffy stressed CLIA’s continuous commitment to its more than 13,500 global travel agency members who reach over 50,000 agent members. “Travel agents are the primary distribution channel for cruise sales and remain critically important to the cruise lines – with a majority of cruise bookings made by travel agents,” added Duffy.
In 2014, CLIA’s agent initiatives will include continuing the redesign of its agent educational curriculum and agent certification programs to ensure that both education and certification remain highly relevant for the agent community. In addition, CLIA will actively promote CLIA certification to consumers, reminding them of the benefits and importance of working with a certified CLIA professional.