The line is using the agents in a UK trade awareness campaign highlighting the earning potential for agents when customers book their next cruise while sailing. The line is also giving away an ultra-luxury, all-inclusive cruise to one trade partner.
Edwina Lonsdale, Mundy Cruising managing director and James Cole, managing director of Six Star Cruises, feature in promotional material. “Promoting the benefits of booking onboard to our guests before they sail has worked out really well. Regent makes sure the booking always comes back to us,” Lonsdale said.
Regent uses onboard offers to entice repeat bookings. This is then passed back to the agent that made the original reservation, who receives commission.
Guests making the booking onboard will also receive a best price guarantee, whereby if a better price is released on the sailing a guest has booked, Regent will honour the lower price.
Paul Beale, Regent’s head of UK sales, said: “The beauty of the programme is that once the guest is onboard and is actually experiencing the world-class service, luxurious accommodation and true all-inclusiveness that Regent Seven Seas Cruises provide, it’s a very easy sale and probably the easiest commission cheque that a travel agent can ever receive.”
Onboard bookings are combinable with agent offers, should the original booking agency wish to offer more benefits. Other customer benefits include a reduced deposit and $100 credit to enjoy on their current cruise.
The Regent sales team will be visiting selected travel partners promoting the campaign with themed marketing material and Hotel Chocolat gifts.
During March, agents can win a £7,000 all-inclusive cruise on Seven Seas Voyager sailing from Monaco to Barcelona.
The voyage is a special “Spotlight on Wine” sailing, where guests will have the option to be treated to special hosted dinners, wine tastings and meet-and-greets with a renowned wine expert from the Castello Banfi hotel.
To enter, agents can visit the regentrade.com/win microsite from March 1 to watch a video on the benefits of booking onboard and answer a question.
