Posted:09-June-2023
The Travel Franchise launches second exclusive Seminar at Sea onboard Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady
After the huge sell-out success of its first-ever Seminar At Sea, the multi-award-winning The Travel Franchise is taking over 150 franchisees and corporate team members, on its second Seminar At Sea. The group will enjoy exclusive experiences and intensive cruise training onboard Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady. The first innovative event - unique to The Travel Franchise, and its consumer-facing travel consultancy brand, Not Just Travel, and never done before - took place last September on NCL’s Norwegian Prima.
Seminar at Sea is a week-long cruise on a cutting-edge ship with four days of onboard workshops to help franchisees improve their knowledge and skyrocket their sales. The trip is heavily subsidised and available to members of The Travel Franchise’s Cruise Mastery Programme. Virgin Voyages is creating a series of exclusive experiences for franchisees which remain unavailable to customers.
Members buy a franchise with The Travel Franchise and train as Not Just Travel-branded, homeworking travel consultants. Paul Harrison, co-founder of The Travel Franchise says: “We launched our first-ever Seminar at Sea in September and was originally planned for 50 people. However, the event quickly sold-out, meaning we had to go back to NCL and ask for more cabins. In the end we took over 200 people - an incredible number. It was unlike any other event that has ever gone before. We have proven we have a winning formula and have gone on to refine it into an even better experience. Virgin Voyages are pulling out all the stops to make this event incredible.”
Over 150 franchisees, plus corporate team and special guests will enjoy a week (June 18th-25th) onboard Virgin Voyage’s adult-only ship Valiant Lady sailing from Barcelona and calling at Cannes, Corsica and Ibiza.
Steve Witt says: “Our innovative cruise division helps members make the most of the booming cruise market and lucrative commissions. Franchisees who are unfamiliar with cruising can sign up to our 12-month Cruise Mastery Programme which provides access to cruise training modules, ship visits and advice. They also get an invite to a Seminar at Sea.”
Witt adds: “Not only do many cruise lines offer lucrative commissions, but our homeworking members have discovered that cruise clients tend to be avid repeat bookers.”
Headed up by cruise expert and senior cruise business development manager, Duncan Croucher, the company's cruise team establishes special relationships with its key trade cruise partners - over 15 leading cruise lines, including NCL, P&O, MSC and Virgin Voyages, which offer exclusive deals, ship visits and training to NJT consultants.
In addition, the company is hosting its second International Mastery Retreat, a week-long cruise from Southampton onboard MSC ship Euribia in October - one of 19 new cruise ships to be launched this year.
Says co-founder Paul Harrison: “Our first Seminar at Sea was a huge success. The best way to learn about cruise is to experience it - and there is no better way than on Valiant Lady, the industry’s most talked about cruise ship that is winning so many awards. Many franchisees had never set foot on a cruise ship but then went on to make some big cruise bookings thanks to the confidence and knowledge they gained on the trip.
“This Seminar at Sea promises to be equally exciting. Virgin Voyages’ adult-only ships offer incredible - and often edgy - entertainment and first-class food and fitness classes. I can’t wait to see the consultants' faces when they get onboard.”
SJ Walker, Director of Sales at Virgin Voyages says: “As a platinum partner with Not Just Travel, we are delighted with how we are 'Raising Sales' together. Hosting the Seminar at Sea is another great opportunity to help accelerate the partnership and drive growth. We love the enthusiasm and support within the network through individuals increasing their sales, in particular those who have completed our Seacademy training program. On average, our Gold Tier members are booking 15 times as much business compared to those who have not started the training, so I would highly recommend those wanting to sell more Virgin Voyages to get involved”.
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