Cruise Lines International Association opens enrollment for its 2018 Travel Agency Membership and Individual Agent Membership programs

Washington, DC, 2017-Oct-19 — /Travel PR News/ — Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has opened enrollment for its 2018 Travel Agency Membership and Individual Agent Membership (IAM) programs. CLIA Membership elevates the credibility and reputation of agencies and their individual agents within the travel industry and is built to help members navigate the cruise industry, attract more clients and increase their earnings.

CLIA Membership establishes agents as a cruise travel authority in the eyes of consumers and provides instant industry recognition with booking credentials (agency) and the CLIA EMBARC ID (agents). It also affords access to industry-leading professional development, cruise line and Executive Partner commission opportunities and trainings, as well as exclusive personal travel perks and discounts. And last year, CLIA saw an increase of 294 percent when it came to agents enrolling it it’s certification programs.

“Travel professionals are the cruise industry’s leading distribution channel, and statistics show that agents who are certified, earn more than those that are not,” said Cindy D’Aoust, president and CEO, CLIA. “In 2018, we’ll continue to expand our extensive list of benefits with agent educational tools regarding health, safety, security and the work being done to protect our environment, providing our members with the resources they need to respond to clients’ requests.”

Travel agencies interested in joining can apply for either Travel Agency Membership. Individual Agent Membership is open to travel agents associated with a 2018 CLIA Travel Agency Member.

Additional CLIA member benefits include:

Professional Development: CLIA’s professional development and training programs, rated the best in the industry, leverage a wealth of expert knowledge and partnerships to deliver valuable education to travel agents and other industry professionals. Our programs are available in a variety of formats to make it convenient for you to keep your skills polished or become certified through CLIA’s members-only certification programs.

Commissions and Travel Perks: Bonus commissions and personal travel discounts from cruise lines and partners. Revamped in 2016, 96% of cruise line offers submitted were paid.

2018 CLIA EMBARC ID: All Individual Agent Members receive the CLIA EMBARC ID, the official credential of the global cruise industry. EMBARC ID entitles you to preferred member pricing for Cruise360 and other events, as well as access to CLIA member benefits, including cruise line and partner commissions.

Cruise Finder: Exclusively for CLIA members, Cruise Finder provides ship information, itineraries, onboard offerings and more across global cruise lines.

Agent Finder: Get listed on CLIA’s online Agent Finder to promote yourself to consumers looking for knowledgeable and reliable cruise-focused travel professionals. Individual Agent Membership includes a complimentary listing beneath your agency’s listing. Boost your profile even further by purchasing an additional stand-alone listing, searchable by your zip code, for just $19.95 for the full membership year.

Cruise tv: Engaging and informative videos you can share directly with your clients, through social media or email.

Plan a Cruise Month: Special members-only resources and promotions that help you make the most of our annual consumer-based Plan a Cruise Month, generating positive awareness of cruise travel.

Exclusive Members-Only Discounts: Enjoy discounted pricing on CLIA and Executive Partner products, including CLIA courses, event registrations and more.

Connect with Key Cruise Line, Destination and Industry Representatives: CLIA events, including Cruise360, the largest and only official conference of the cruise industry, provide you with an opportunity to network with others in the industry while enjoying a week’s worth of professional development, ship inspections, and the latest industry trends.

Relevant and Timely Information: CLIA’s monthly Travel Agent Cruise News delivers the latest information straight to your inbox the fourth Tuesday of the month. You’ll also receive regular CLIA emails with members-only news alerts, professional development opportunities, and more.

To learn more about CLIA Travel Agency and Individual Agent Membership, please visit cruising.org/joinclia.

About Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) – One Industry, One Voice
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is the world’s largest cruise industry trade association, providing a unified voice and leading authority of the global cruise community. The association has 15 offices globally with representation in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australasia. CLIA supports policies and practices that foster a safe, secure, healthy and sustainable cruise ship environment for the more than 24 million passengers who cruise annually and is dedicated to promoting the cruise travel experience. Members are comprised of the world’s most prestigious ocean, river and specialty cruise lines; a highly trained and certified travel agent community; and cruise line suppliers and partners, including ports & destinations, ship development, suppliers and business services. The organization’s mission is to be the unified global organization that helps its members succeed by advocating, educating and promoting for the common interests of the cruise community. For more information, visit www.cruising.org or follow Cruise Lines International Association on CLIA Facebook and Twitter pages.

Press Contacts

Travel Industry & Marketing

Sarah Kennedy – Manager, Public Relations & Marketing
Tel: 202-759-9313 | Cell: 703-628-7389
skennedy@cruising.org

Industry Policies/Regulatory & Legislative Issues

Christina Perez – Manager, Public Affairs
Tel: 202-759-9326
cperez@cruising.org

SOURCE: Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)