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Set Sail for Excellence!
11th International PLS Symposium
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on board the Holland America Volendam
June 2, 2010
Vancouver, BC
Only $49
SOLD OUT
Join Us Next Year
Official Sponsor
The Program, WOW, what a line-up of speakers!
The 11th International PLS Symposium was held June 2, 2010 in Vancouver, BC on board Holland America's Volendam hosted by Holland America's Dave Stockert.
The Symposium featured innovative and timely ways for agents to succeed in today's tough economy. The Speakers kept the agents on the edge of their seat with a wealth of information that will fortify the agents to contend with the current financial crisis. Agents walked away from the PowerFest recharged and ready to start selling more cruises than ever before.
Speakers included Dave Stockert of Holland America, Terry Dale of CLIA, Bert Rivero of IATAN, Randall Soy of Regent Seven Seas, Kristin Karst of Amawaterways, Diane Moore of Windstar Cruises, Joni Rein of Carnival, Cynthia Perry of Travel Insured, Thorunn Reynisdottir of Destination Europe, Debbie Maier of Mail Pound and Richard Earls of TRO.
Following the power-packed Symposium, lunch was served and a inspection of the ship was offered. See the program above in PDF format.
PLATINUM SPONSOR
GOLD SPONSORS
Travel Insured
Destination Europe
Virgin Vacations
SILVER SPONSOR
PLS MEMBERSHIP
PLS has established its Charter Membership with over 19,000 Agents and Owners from the United States and Canada. The establishment of THE SOCIETY, signifies the first such Organization which has a membership committed to the sales and marketing to the affluent market.
The Benefits of Membership include:
• Advance notice of Platinum Seminars educational offerings
• Special Sailing Seminars for Members Only
• Priority Cabin Assignments
• Special discounts to Travel Trade Cruise-A-Thons
• Dedicated PLS phone number for quicker access
• Dedicated PLS Section on Platinum Seminars Website
Platinum Seminars Announces PLS I
(Platinum Luxury Specialist Designation)
“It is time for luxury-based agents to receive the recognition they deserve, and for them to have a designation that singles them out as experts in the affluent market,” said Bill Brown, president and CEO of Platinum Seminars, a Campus at Sea company dedicated to creating a presence in luxury sales thereby expanding the premium and luxury markets.
Platinum Luxury Specialist I is the first in a series of luxury specialist designations
to be rolled out by Platinum Seminars out over the next two years. In order to earn the PLS I designation, travel agents must meet the following criteria:
* Have a CLIA or IATAN card.
* Attend two Platinum Seminars Campus at Sea Modules
* Hold a complimentary membership in Platinum Luxury Society comprised of 19,000 luxury-based agents
* Attend at least one Platinum Luxury Society International Luxury Travel Symposium per year
* Sell at least $50,000 in cruises per year
Agents who meet the criteria will receive a certificate of completion, a PLS lapel pin, and a news release they can place with local media to announce their designation.
“My hope,” said Brown, “is that travel agents will proudly use the PLS I designation and the PLS logo. Both are signs of professionalism and first-hand knowledge. The designation is an indication that the luxury-based agent has gone the extra mile to understand luxury products and the mindset of the upscale consumer.”
Platinum Seminars was founded in 1992 by William W. Brown, who believed that there existed a need to offer training and continuing education opportunities to Travel Agents and Agency Owners, with a focus on selling luxury and service to the affluent community at large. Platinum Seminars utilizes Luxury and Premium Cruise Lines to host its Seminars and to use as examples of Luxury Service “At Sea” Seminars are offered aboard a large variety of Cruise Lines and offer exciting itineraries around the world. The Seminars include a familiarization element of the Cruise Line that the participant is on, as well as a workshop format that encompasses course work elaborating on creative qualifying, marketing, client and market identification and closing techniques. Leaders in the Cruise industry have developed all of the course offerings. This format for educating agents/owners promotes the individual cruise line while affording exciting and challenging opportunities to learn. Of particular focus in the seminars is the concept of “selling up” and attracting affluent markets to the cruise experience. Following an individual’s experience, a tracking modality is in place to identify the sales of the agent and agency, as well as to identify the successful incorporation of course outline materials. Additionally, specialty courses focused on incentive and affinity group sales are offered.
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