Spurred by interest from disenfranchised cruise-only agencies,
Leisure Travel Group has completed its formation of a cruise
division.
According to Michelle Morgan, executive director of LTG, about
18 months ago the organization began receiving inquiries from
cruise-only agencies that had been involved in various franchise
organizations.
“Our membership growth is fueled by word of mouth from satisfied
members LTG does not have a sales force or a dedicated member
recruitment department,” Morgan said.
Based on the calls from these cruise-only agencies and the
interest they expressed in becoming part of LTG, the organization’s
board of directors created a new division.
Morgan said that in the past 14 months, more than a dozen
high-volume cruise-only agencies have joined the Marina del Rey,
Calif.-based co-op.
To shape its cruise division, the organization recently created
the Cruise Council, whose members will assist in developing and
testing new programs.
The council members also previewed LTG’s new cruise-only Web
site, which provides members with a variety of options to customize
their consumer sites. Member cruise Web sites can be segmented by
destination, cruise line or a combination of both. Other custom
links include Our Hottest Deals, Deluxe Cruise Options, Hosted
Sailings, Cruise Guides & FAQs and Browsing Ship Profiles. Key
suppliers loaded into the site include Princess, Royal Caribbean,
Celebrity, Carnival and NCL.
Enhancements to the 2003 portfolio of cruise product will
include exclusive cruise/land/air packages utilizing net pricing,
commissionable sightseeing options and private label pre- and
post-hotel stays.
These new programs augment LTG’s current cruise product that
features value-added amenities such as bonus miles (free miles on
AA, DL or UA) and complimentary private car and driver shore
events.
LTG’s cruise help desk dubbed the Cruise Action Bureau provides
sales support for frontline agents, including customer service for
supplier-related issues and the Cruise Price Match program, which
guarantees LTG members will not be undersold.
