ROYAL
CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL and CELEBRITY CRUISES launched a portal for home-based agents on its agent
site, cruisingpower.com. The portal provides a collection of
resources and tools for home-based agents, the lines said,
including marketing tools, various ways to connect with the lines'
sales organizations and a "knowledge desk."
THE TRAVEL
INSTITUTE, based in Wellesley,
Mass., will deliver on-site training and certification at Cruise
University, a 10-day educational experience aboard an eastern
Caribbean cruise leaving from Fort Lauderdale April 22. Agents
attending this Cruise University, organized by travel agent
educational organization Cruise Agent Only, will have the
opportunity to earn two Travel Institute designations: Destination
Specialist Caribbean and Lifestyle Specialist Honeymoons and
Destination Weddings.
CRUISE
UNIVERSITY: The curriculum,
training and testing will be provided by the institute. In
addition, the Cruise Line International Association will provide
participants with the opportunity to earn up to 70 credits toward
cruise counselor certifications through a variety of training
programs. Cruise University is held aboard various cruise ships
throughout the year. Cruise Agent Only was founded in 2002 and has
over 2,700 members. For additional information, see the Web site at
www.cruiseagentonly.com.
HOST AGENCY SPOTLIGHT
Name: IT Travel Group
(Agency - Int'l Tours of Houston)
Address: 6363 Richmond
Ave. Suite 200, Houston TX 77057-5914
Phone: (713) 785
2682
Fax: (713)
268-2626
Web
site:www.ittravelgroup.com
Years in
business: 30 (host program
established in 1989)
Cost to join:
$100
Monthly fees:
$25 for Amadeus
Number of
independents: 75
Annual sales:
$6.5 million
Industry
affiliations: ARC, Iatan, CLIA,
ASTA, Nacta, OSSN
FAM OF THE WEEK
Southeast Asia
Departure: March 9 from
Los Angeles to Bangkok via Thai Airways.
Length: 10
nights.
Sponsor: Pacific
Holidays, New York.
Cost: $1,795 per person,
double. Includes roundtrip air, accommodations, most meals,
transfers and sightseeing.
Trip: Visits Bangkok; and
Da Nang, Halong, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Hue,
Vietnam.
Noteworthy: The companion
rate is $1,995 per person. The single supplement is $385. An
upgrade to business class can be purchased for $1,790.
Contact: (800) 355-8025;
fax: (212) 629-9992; e-mail: [email protected].