American Queen Steamboat Company (AQSC), which recently added the 166-passenger American Duchess to its fleet, has announced its new travel agent certification program, the Steamboat Academy.
“Agents crave product knowledge to help build their confidence, resulting in increased sales,” said Ted Sykes, president and COO of AQSC. “The Steamboat Academy is a great opportunity for them to satisfy their educational needs to better sell AQSC cruises.”
There are a number of useful selling points for the line. The three AQSC vessels offer unusually professional theaters and entertainment, drawn from the regions famous for music genres such as bluegrass, jazz, country, ragtime and rock and roll. Agents will also enjoy learning about theme cruises celebrating everything from bourbon to Civil War history. An onboard “riverlorian” is well-versed in the history and culture of each river; he or she will also bring onboard noted guest historians who offer additional insights on the culture and heritage of America’s Heartland and the Deep South.
AQSC’s landside tours explore the food, history and homes of the destinations they visit, and the cruise line’s distinctive coaches that follow the ships carry local interpreters.
The Steamboat Academy consists of six courses; agents who take all six programs will be certified and sent a certificate suitable for framing. Also, webinars are currently offered online.
The basic courses include an introduction to each of the company’s three vessels — the American Queen, American Empress and American Duchess — and sections on shore excursions and group reservations.
Ongoing education courses will keep travel partners current with trends, destination spotlights and product enhancements. In 2018, topics will include destination spotlights, product updates and new itineraries, as well as agent tools.
Agents can register through the travel agent portal accessible at the upper right corner on AQSC.com. For additional information, email [email protected].
The Details
American Queen Steamboat Company
www.aqsc.com
