MedCruise and CLIA Europe sign travel agent training partnership

MedCruise and CLIA Europe sign travel agent training partnership - Κεντρική Εικόνα

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MedCruise continues its commitment with the European travel agent community creating a first step for a successful travel agent platform

CLIA’s successful travel agent training programme to be expanded to France

Athens, 26 May 2015 – CLIA Europe, the association representing the 40 billion euro cruise industry in Europe, and MedCruise, the association of cruise ports in the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas, have signed a strategic partnership agreement to collaborate, sponsor and support the advancement of a European travel agent training program.

CLIA Europe is engaged in travel agent training, research and marketing communications to promote the desirability of cruise holidays with thousands of travel agency and travel agent members. This landmark agreement with MedCruise will allow the expansion of ETALP, CLIA’s travel agent training programme, to France, where thousands of travel agents will get access to CLIA’s online training resources for this purpose.

Carla Salvadό, President of MedCruise, said: “This strategic agreement marks an important milestone in MedCruise relationship with CLIA Europe. I am delighted that our associations will collaborate in training travel agents and giving them the right tools to attract even more people to cruising in the Med and beyond. The partnership shows that in the port community as well as in the cruise industry we never lose sight of the fact that our success is directly tied to the travel agent community”.

Pierfrancesco Vago, CLIA Europe’s Chairman, said: “The travel agent community play and will continue to play an essential role in the cruise industry’s supply chain, bringing our fantastic product closer to the end customer. We see agents as a vital link between travelers and cruise lines. They are our leading advocates when it comes to communicating the thrill of a cruise vacation. This agreement will see the expansion of CLIA’s travel agent training programme to one key European market, but it will not be the last one. I am glad that, in taking this step, CLIA Europe and MedCruise will continue to engage with and invest in a sector of fundamental importance to our industry”.

About Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) – One Industry, One Voice
Celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2015, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is the unified voice and leading authority of the global cruise community. As the largest cruise industry trade association with 15 offices globally, CLIA has representation in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australasia. CLIA’s mission is to support policies and practices that foster a safe, secure, healthy and sustainable cruise ship environment for the more than 23 million passengers who cruise annually, as well as promote the cruise travel experience. Members are committed to the sustained success of the cruise industry and are comprised of the world’s most prestigious ocean, river and specialty cruise lines; a highly trained and certified travel agent community; and other cruise industry partners, including ports, destinations, ship developers, suppliers, business services and travel operators. For more information, visit www.cruising.orgwww.cruiseforward.org or follow Cruise Lines International Association on the CLIA Facebook and Twitter fan pages.
 

About MedCruise
Set up in Rome in 1996, MedCruise is the Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports. MedCruise’s mission is to promote the cruise industry in the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas. The Association assists its members in benefiting from the growth of the cruise industry by providing networking, promotional and professional development opportunities. Today, the association has grown to 73 members representing more than 100 ports around the Mediterranean region, including the Black Sea, the Red Sea and the Near Atlantic, plus 31 associate members, representing other associations, tourist boards and ship/port agents.

 

Contact:

CLIA Europe
Tomas Matesanz
VP Communication and Public Affairs
tmatesanz@cruising.org

MedCruise
Thanos Pallis
MedCruise Secretary General
thanos.pallis@medcruise.com