How to Create Cruise Groups: A Step-by-Step Guide for Success

Are you looking for ways to expand your travel agency business? Have you considered creating a land tours or cruise group business? Perhaps you have already created a speculative group and it flopped, but you see your colleagues who are killing it in group travel. You probably ask yourself… how in the world can I find success as a cruise group trip planner? You are not alone! Being a group trip planner, whether for land tours or cruises, can be lucrative and put more money in your pocket if you have the right planning tools in place. But, it takes more than just choosing a cruise line, crafting a cute marketing message, and distributing the itinerary to your friends, family, and everyone you know. In this training, Michael Graham and Elyse Monroe of MGA Travel, will share with you all the tactics they have used to execute hundreds of successful cruise group trips over the past 20 years. They will cover all the essential steps in creating a successful cruise group, from determining a theme and choosing the right cruise line, to managing payments and promoting the trip. By the end of this course, participants will feel confident in their ability to assemble and execute a seamless group cruise experience for their clients. Attendees who want to learn how to create cruise groups should already have a basic understanding of the cruising industry and some prior experience with booking individual cruises. Things to Consider before Venturing into Group Trip Planning So you want to start planning a group cruise for your friends, family members, and clients who are dreaming of having a family reunion; or local businesses who want to incentivize their employees? Before you dive into the deep end, you need to understand the pros and cons of creating a cruise group business. Chances are, if you are a home-based agent, you may not have the manpower to plan and lead large groups and take care of your other clients. You’ll want to not only understand the demands being a group travel planner will place on your time but also the financial impacts (and upside) of such a venture. Group Travel Planning: Tips and Tools for Success It goes without saying that this type of work requires a lot of thought, diligence, and in-depth planning. For some, it can be downright overwhelming! In this training, Michael and Elyse are going to make your life so much easier! They’ve been there, done that. And, you won’t need to make the same mistakes they did early on in their careers. Instead, you’ll benefit from the knowledge and experience they have in creating the perfect cruise group, whether on the river or ocean, small or large, family reunion or corporate event. Not only will this training give you a jump start into the world of group travel, but it will provide even the most seasoned travel agent with guidance and best practices for flawlessly executing, what can be, a very profitable venture. Read More