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Norwegian unveils new agents’ initiative
Norwegian Cruise Line has unveiled a new initiative to build closer ties with agents, who account for more than 90% of its UK sales, while pledging that commission will remain unchanged.
Under the new Partners First scheme, which will be launched to the trade at a webinar on May 9 and 10, a raft of measures is being introduced.
While the scheme, which has been running in the US for the last year, pulls together some existing components that Norwegian offers the trade, there are various new elements designed to ease the booking process and simplify payments.
These include a new agent sales support team; the launch of a Book Norwegian agent booking engine; and the introduction of the ABTA single payment scheme.
There will also be more trade dialogue with round-tables, newsletters, competitions, roadshows in Manchester, London and Glasgow this autumn, and ship visits via the line’s PHD@Sea on-board agent training programme.
As a result, agent ship visits are expected to treble this year, with around 120 retailers experiencing Norwegian ships.
International general manager and vice-president Francis Riley said the company wanted to cement its relationship at agents.
"Partners First is not just a programme, it is how we think; it is part of our DNA," he explained. "It is how we will drive the business forward."
He stressed that agents’ commission would not be altered, adding: "We pay a fair level of remuneration for what we get and have no plans to change it."
*Norwegian’s new ship Norwegian Breakaway, which launches next spring, is due to come to Southampton for its trade unveiling on a one-night stay on April 29 before departing for the US.
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Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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