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Carnival for the first time appoints front-line agents to advisory body

Carnival for the first time appoints front-line agents to advisory body
Carnival Cruise Line appointed 23 new members to its 2015 Travel Partner Advisory Committee (TPAC). The individuals span an array of agency models and this year, for the first time, include front-line agents as well as owners and executives.

The change was implemented to enable Carnival to gain more feedback from agents who engage with the brand on a day-to-day basis in various sales and marketing-related functions.

Members of TPAC are nominated by Mike Julius, senior managing director of US trade sales, in consultation with Justin French, managing director of international sales, and Janet Wygert, managing director of strategic accounts, who receive nominee suggestions from their respective teams.

The 2015 TPAC members include Diane Allen, owner and lead agent, Cruise One – Allen; Scott Babus, Front Line Agent, Going Places Travel; Elliot Finkelman, selling owner, Kanata CruiseShipCenters; Kelley Hardesty, independent agent, Nexion; April Hillsman, director–Cruise Department, Nexion; Gavin Johnson, master cruise counselor– luxury specialist, Vacations to Go; and Connie Kirby, svp Cruise Department, Vacation Tour & Travel.

Further members are Paige Heitzmann, vp/agent, Travel Affiliate; J.J. Kuykendall, franchise owner, Cruise Planners – Kuykendall; Marietta Levering, front-line agent, Cruise Planners - Bogert; Michele Martel, group cruise agent, L’Univers du Voyage; Jean Paugh, Owner, All About You Travel Unlimited – Uniglobe USA; Kathy Primm, manager, Sue Smith Vacations; Pat Probert, senior travel consultant, Travel Only; Gladys Roberts, senior cruise consultant, Cruise Vacation Outlet; and Bob and Betty Tolleson, Franchise Owners, Cruise One.

Additional members are Debbie Timmerman, owner, The Travel People; Penny Turner, agent, Expedia Cruise Ship Centers – Clearwater; Sharonda Webb, Agent, Prestige Travel; Rani Wolkin, Specialist 4, Automobile Club of Southern California; Susie Wright, Team Leader, Discountcruises.com; and Valeria Vick, host agent/regional development coordinator, KHM Travel Group.