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Viking Cruises is giving away a million dollars in an agent drawing

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Michele Saegesser announces the million-dollar giveaway (Photo: Anne Kalosh)
Travel agents have the chance to become a millionaire in a Viking Cruises drawing, vp sales Michele Saegesser announced Sunday at a trade event aboard Viking Star.

Each qualified booking an agent makes from Oct. 17 to March 31 counts as one entry, with the $1m winner to be chosen in a random drawing in mid-April. The more bookings an agent makes, the better the odds.

Top trade partners and agents on Viking Star reacted enthusiastically to the promotion.

'That's better odds than a Powerball,' said Ralph Williams, a Cruise Planners-American Express Travel Representative in Elkhorn, Nebraska. 'We'll be all over it,' added Laura Williams of the same agency.

'It's very cool. Very bold. It generates excitement,' said Vicky Garcia, chief operating officer and co-owner, Cruise Planners-American Express Travel. 'Nobody's ever done it. They definitely get the attention of travel agents,' she said of Viking, 'and they deliver on the product for consumers.'

'It's a wonderful opportunity for an agent, and it demonstrates Viking's support for the community,' according to Jennifer Gasser, vp supplier relations and product operations, World Travel Holdings.

(Both Garcia and Gasser have served as godmothers for Viking Longships, Viking Magni and Viking Egil, respectively.)

'It's amazing. Really exciting. But it's a drawing. Anyone can win,' said Michael Consoli, a Cruise Planners agent from Roswell, Georgia, who was recognized at the trade event by Saegesser as 'the No. 1 agent in the world for independent travel bookings.'

Agents will need to register starting Oct. 17 at vrc.com/million.