CLIA Australasia enhances its membership programme

It is integrating membership and training for the first time as part of a major overhaul of its membership programme, while offering travel agents access to a wide range of benefits from January 1.

CLIA travel agents will get direct benefits from member cruise lines, as well as everyday discounts from scores of major retailers across Australia and New Zealand, ranging from supermarkets and cinemas to hotels and restaurants, including big names like Woolworths, Coles, Westfield, JB Hi-Fi and Target.

Agents will also be eligible for a global cruise agent ID card which will enable them to access worldwide travel benefits, bringing them in line with CLIA agents in the United States.

Commercial director Brett Jardine said access to core training modules and key electives will now be included in CLIA’s travel agent membership fee, making it far more accessible for agency staff to become cruise specialists.

‘With CLIA training now available online and key modules included in the membership fee, it has never been easier for agents to improve their cruise knowledge and make the most of our booming cruise market,' Jardine said.

He said the new structure will deliver significant savings for agencies committed to training their staff, as well as giving them access to many new benefits.