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MSC Cruises USA launches MSC Academy with bonus pay offers

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Travel agents can learn all about how to sell MSC cruises in the new MSC Academy
MSC Cruises USA launched MSC Academy, its new travel agent learning program on the e-learning platform Travel Agent University (TAU), with bonus pay incentives for successful completion.

MSC Academy consists of multiple courses, quizzes and checkpoints detailing MSC Cruises’ history, fleet and on-board experiences.

'As MSC Cruises strategically expands its presence in North America, our goal is to work with every travel agent in the region for our mutual success,' said Roberto Fusaro, president of MSC Cruises USA. 'MSC Academy will allow us to educate all travel agents on our product and teach them how to effectively sell us, while also demonstrating how travel agents who do business with us can significantly increase their earning potential.'

With a $10bn investment plan that includes up to 11 new ships entering service between 2017 and 2026, MSC Cruises plans hefty growth in North America. Its MSC Seaside will enter service in Miami in December, and MSC Meraviglia is scheduled to join the North American fleet in winter 2019. MSC Divina also sails year-round from Miami.

Upon logging in to the TAU learning management system at www.mscacademy.com, agents will be guided through a comprehensive program. With the help of videos, voiceovers, an audio pronunciation guide and various activities, agents can learn and retain key information while staying current on brand updates.

A key benefit is that the program provides a platform for ongoing communication among agent participants. Notes and resources provided by other agents will be available to create a shared learning space to exchange knowledge and expertise.

MSC Academy is accessible 24/7. The site’s resource center provides access to sales tools, webinars, videos, itineraries and other assets aimed at helping agents increase sales after they graduate. Agents also can use a central dashboard to review their course activity, track the status of their progress and access rewards, including gift cards, bonus commissions, familiarization trips and monthly giveaways.

To kick off MSC Academy, any agent who registers for the new course by May 31 will be entered to win a seven-night Caribbean cruise.

Upon completion of MSC Academy, agents will gain access to travel agent rates and opportunities to participate in seminars at sea. They'll also receive an MSC Cruises baseball cap, cell phone business card holder and travel agent brochure.

In addition, agents who complete the course prior to MSC Seaside's christening will be invited to a one-night inaugural celebration event aboard the new ship from Dec. 22-23, subject to availability.

Further incentives available upon completion are a $50 bonus commission for the agent's first new FIT booking, $100 bonus pay for the first new FIT MSC Yacht Club booking and double MSC Rewards points for all new FIT bookings through the end of 2017.

With 45,000-plus active members, TAU is the industry’s largest online travel agent community, having graduated more specialists than any other industry education program and awarding more than 1m diplomas since inception.