In an effort to support travel advisors in selling the cruise brand, Lindblad Expeditions has partnered with content optimization platform Approach Guides. The platform utilizes dynamic client-focused multimedia for travel agent co-branding, thereby allowing advisors to craft bespoke promotional content.
“By partnering with Approach Guides, our dedicated travel advisors will now have a growing suite of sales and marketing templates at their fingertips, which they can easily and quickly personalize and co-brand with Lindblad Expeditions,” said Lesa Bain, vice president of sales, Lindblad Expeditions. “With tools and technology like this just a few clicks away on our Expedition 360 platform, it will be easier than ever for travel advisors to educate their clients on Lindblad Expeditions’ more than 170 unique itineraries across all seven continents, and to sell an expedition cruise.”
Travel advisors are vocal about what they need from brand partners: intuitive, best-in-class solutions that support their sales and marketing efforts, while keeping them front and center.
Via the cruise brand’s Expedition 360 platform, advisors can access and personalize quick pre-designed templates. The templates are intended to help advisors create marketing materials with “an immersive look into the special character of the Lindblad Expeditions cruising experience,” according to the line.
According to Jennifer Raezer, co-founder and chief marketing officer of Approach Guides, “Travel advisors are vocal about what they need from brand partners: intuitive, best-in-class solutions that support their sales and marketing efforts, while keeping them front and center. We are so pleased to help make this a reality.”
Specific content available to Lindblad advisors include itinerary details, information related to onboard experts, ship overviews and journey types. They can also customize turnkey solutions such as email, social media content and websites to increase conversions.
The new platform, expected to be accessible on Expedition 360 and Lindblad’s travel advisor portal soon, will initially focus on Alaska, Antarctica and the Galapagos. Additional templates are scheduled to be released in the following months. And already, response from the advisor community is positive.
"Last week, I sent a Lindblad Expeditions Alaska Approach Guide to a new referral,” said Ralph Iantosca, owner of Iantosca Travel. “Previously, he had only been exposed to mass-market, large ship cruising, with thousands of passengers onboard, so he was thrilled to have learned of this experience. We are now working on a proposal for Alaska in 2024, and might have two new bookings. Should these two cabins book, the end result will be an 88% higher sale, the difference between $32,000.00 and $17,000.00. I love this new tool.”
