VACATION.COM HIGHLIGHTS ‘DISTINCTIVE VOYAGES’
Vacation.com reports that member agencies can now begin ordering elegant, full-colour client brochures detailing the “2014 Distinctive Voyages” sailings and excursions to assist them in highlighting the advantages of these sailings to their clients. Distinctive Voyages is a concierge-hosted cruise program that, next year, features more than 300 carefully selected sailings and includes complimentary added amenities such as an exclusive shore event, private cocktail reception and the expertise of a concierge host onboard each sailing. In addition, because the program had its start within Vacation.com, there is already a base of 300 seasoned hosts from within Vacation.com — and the continued success and growth of the program has yielded 120 new Vacation.com member applicants to be considered as hosts.
“Without the exceptional support of Vacation.com members, Distinctive Voyages could never have expanded as rapidly and successfully as it has. Now that the concierge-hosted program has been taken to the next level, we’re thrilled to offer our members beautiful marketing pieces that they in turn can provide to their clients for free,” said Vacation.com vice-president Canada, Christine James. “Integral to the success of Distinctive Voyages has been the willingness of our Vacation.com member agents to actively serve as concierge hosts. I’m excited that in addition to our 300 Vacation.com agents who have already been fully trained on this essential responsibility, we have another 120 waiting in the wings wishing to participate as hosts. Now that we have grown the program from a relatively small number of annual sailings in 2006 to well over 300, this enables even more Vacation.com members to serve in this distinguished capacity.”
The onboard concierge host is just one of the many distinct, complimentary features consumers can expect when booking a Distinctive Voyages cruise. Each concierge host is thoroughly vetted and only the most exceptional candidates are selected. Among other criteria, all concierge hosts are required to possess a past experience hosting groups, knowledge of the destinations, and a booking history with the Distinctive Voyages program.
Sailings included in the 2014 Distinctive Voyages collection range in length from seven to 112 days. In addition to the cruise lines currently participating in Distinctive Voyages for 2013 — Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and Silversea Cruises — three cruise lines have been added for 2014: Cunard Line, Seabourn Cruise Line and Windstar Cruises. (http://www.agentuniverse.com)
