14 May 2009

Leading Cruise Agents triples membership

The Leading Cruise Agents UK has tripled its membership in the last year.

The association now has 120 members and two new associate members, Yachts of Seabourn and Louis Cruise Lines.

Small ship cruise provider eWaterways has joined the LCA’s affiliate membership programme, which launched in February.

This new concept offers businesses with an interest in the cruise industry the opportunity to access LCA members and actively promote their products and services.

The port of Harwich is hoping to join as an affiliate member and plans to distribute the LCA's consumer cruise magazine ‘Stowaway’ to cruise ship passengers boarding in that port.

German specialist retailer and tour operator Dertour and Get Cruising of Tunbridge Wells have joined in the cruise agents category.

Meanwhile, the LCA has revamped its quarterly meeting format to a more business-focused day with face-to-face sessions in the afternoon.

Agents can pre-book half hour slots with associate and affiliate members in a ‘speed-dating’ type setting.

In addition, for the first time, associate and affiliate members have been invited to attend the morning sessions to allow more open communication amongst all the organisations involved.

Previously this was a closed session for travel agent members.

LCA chairperson Clare Dudley said: "Our main focus now is to ensure that all the associate and affiliate members provide our cruise agent members with exclusive LCA offers for their customers. This clearly gives all members a real sales strength against their competitors and shows the true value of joining the LCA.

"We aim to get many more for the members over the coming weeks. Going forward, plans are in progress to add workshops to our future meetings that will be run by key industry figures and provide members with helpful tips on how to get more out of their businesses."

By Bev Fearis