DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. --Officials from Travel Services
International scheduled a meeting with Renaissance Cruises to
discuss the line's consumer marketing efforts.
Executives from cruise agencies owned by TSI criticized the
line's bypass policies, citing, among other things, a mailing to
past passengers with an exclusive offer bookable only through the
line's toll-free reservations number, and consumer discounts
available only through its Web site.
Tony Persico, chairman of TSI-owned Cruise One and CruiseWorld
here, had asked TSI's management team to authorize a boycott of the
line. TSI's other cruise agencies include Cruises Inc., Ship 'n
Shore Cruises, Cruise Fairs of America and Cruises Only. The TSI
cruise agencies said they expect to top $300 million in sales this
year.
Persico said the agencies want to continue working with
Renaissance, but only if the line will support agencies as true
partners. TSI was formed last year by Joseph Vittoria, the former
chairman of Avis.