CLIA celebrates latest river and expedition ‘Cruise Champions’

Over 60 agents who successfully completed a seven-month CLIA training programme have been officially recognised as river or expedition ‘Cruise Champions’

The agents received their certification at a graduation ceremony in Birmingham.

The programmes, now in their second year, are aimed at agents who are new or have limited experience of the river or expedition sectors. Training includes a mix of classroom learning, monthly webinars, assessments and digital catch-ups.

The content was rolled out alongside CLIA member operators and covered topics including destinations, product awareness and sales techniques.

Andy Harmer, CLIA UK & Ireland managing director, said: “Many congratulations to all our Cruise Champions. These programmes have helped them build specialist expertise in two of the fastest-growing cruise sectors and the graduates should be very proud of what they have accomplished.

“Throughout the courses, agents have shared real-life experiences, customer success stories and practical insights, helping to create a genuinely collaborative learning environment. It’s been particularly rewarding to see their knowledge, confidence and enthusiasm develop, equipping them to better support customers and grow their cruise business.

“Many thanks to our cruise line members for their continued support in helping deliver training and expertise. We look forward to welcoming another trade cohort later this year and continuing to invest in the development of cruise professionals.”

The next round of programmes will launch in November and again cover either river and expedition cruise. Applications will open in August.

For more information, go to cruising.org