Dear valued travel partner,

A year ago last September we launched our new and improved groups program called Groups Your Way. Designed to make selling, promoting, marketing and executing group cruises easier and more efficient, the Groups Your Way site came loaded with ideas, sales tips, current deals, incentives, advice, tools, collateral and more. And now, to celebrate the one year anniversary of one of our most successful and well-received programs, we're offering some very special promotions.

Our Groups Now 2+$25 promotion is a win for you and a win for your clients. Running throughout the month of September, get two bonus GAP points on top of the GAP points available on your selected sailing when you book a new group between now and September 30th. Plus, if you sell 50% of your group by the first option date you'll get a $25 marketing fund bonus per stateroom. For more information click here.

This flyer and so much more can be found on the Groups Your Way Microsite. And for further groups assistance, be sure to utilize our helpful Groups Your Way Toolkit - a handy reference guide which compliments the information found on the Groups Your Way Microsite.

Groups are a fun and simple way to increase your business, develop a larger client base, gain repeat customer opportunities and earn faster commissions - and I love them! And I'm sure you'll love working on your next group cruise with Royal Caribbean

Sincerely ,



Vicki L. Freed, CTC
Senior Vice President
Sales and Trade Support & Services
Royal Caribbean International®

 
 
 
  want to be a featured v.i.p.?

Do you have an interesting story to tell? Email your story and photos to AskVicki@rccl.com and you may be featured in an upcoming issue.
 
 
Oasis of the seasSM Virtual Expo

Mark your calendars for September 29 and 30, 2009 for this online exhibition which will feature the many wonders to be found and experienced onboard Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Oasis of the Seas. It’s a virtual event like no other that will introduce you to a ship like no other through a variety of interactive displays and information booths. Click here to register.
 
Oasis of the SeasSM microsite

Can’t get enough of the most incredible ship at sea? Neither can we. That’s why we’ve created a special Oasis of the Seas Travel Agent Microsite which will feature a different topic each week as we countdown to her arrival. From delicious dining options and amazing amenities to e-tips, facts and figures, this is your exclusive site for all things Oasis.
 
asap plus commission protection

Just because the economy is down, doesn’t mean your commission level has to be too. Protect your current commission level in 2010, even if you aren’t achieving the revenue levels usually required to do so with ASAP Plus. Simply book at least one more Royal Caribbean cruise and one more Azamara or Celebrity cruise that sails in 2009 and you’re covered. Learn more.
 
 
 
 
The Northeast is one of our most historically interesting and visually charming destinations. With three ships offering unique itineraries it is a true journey of fascination. Go whale watching along the coast of Canada, explore the beautiful lighthouse-lined beaches of New England, or visit Bermuda famous for its pink-sand beaches and the shorts that bear its namesake. Learn more.
 
 
 

 

Successful group cruises don’t have to be your typical reunion or wedding types. There are a multitude of affinity groups, fan groups and cultural groups in this world who are all perfect candidates for group cruises. Many of our Travel Partners realize this and I am constantly wowed by the new ideas and angles they conceive.

Cordoba Travel Cruises and Tours is one of those awesome agencies who found repeat success with the same niche theme for the past 27 years. In 1983, the Suarez family created a unique group cruise idea based on a popular Hispanic tradition, Quinces - a coming of age birthday celebration and important teenage milestone celebrated with grand festivities. And so the "Quinceañeras Cruise" was born.

Since then Cordoba Travel has hosted many "Quinceañeras" on different ships to various destinations with parties ranging in size from 150 to 500 guests.

"Quinceañeras" usually consist of 15 to 30 girls and are accompanied by most, if not all, of their extended family. It sounds like a lot of work, but according to Nyurka Suarez Paredes, Sales Manager for Cordoba Travel, it’s not - thanks to the personalized support that Royal Caribbean provides.

Nyurka specifically appreciates the help she gets from her Business Development Manager, Julissa Perez; her Regional Director, Mary Lynch; and her Senior Partner Advocate, Linet del Sol; as well as the valuable co-op marketing funds she receives and the helpful e-tools we provide like CruisingPower.com and CruiseMatch.

Thank you to the Suarez family for providing such an interesting success story. I challenge the rest of our Travel Partner community to think about niche markets, special interest organizations and affinity groups they may be involved with and to create a successful, repeat group cruise idea like this. And if you do, let me know about it, so you can be featured here too. Send your stories to: AskVicki@rccl.com.
 
 


 
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*Brilliance of the Seas® is operated by RCL (UK) Ltd., a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.