2023 Day 2

Thursday, November 2

All times are listed in Eastern Standard Time. Program is tentative and subject to change.

7:45am - 8:30am Breakfast, sponsored by MSC Cruises

Presented by Koreen McNutt, Senior Vice President of Sales and Trade Engagement and Commercial Sales Officer, MSC Cruises

8:45am - 9:45am Supplier Educational Workshops

Alaska - Visit Anchorage

Alaska & Anchorage by The Numbers!
What drives traveler’s decisions when making a plan for an Alaska trip? In short, the numbers. Learn the distances (Alaska IS Big!), temperatures in all the seasons and when to go, money & how to get the best bang-for-the-buck!  And lots of other facts about Alaska wildlife, culture & attractions that will help you sell this destination with the authority of a seasoned expert.  This engaging and entertaining presentation will definitely increase your numbers to the 49th state!
Presented by David S. Kasser, SVP Sales, Visit Anchorage

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line: Where Magic Meets the Sea
Come hear from Disney cruise experts about what’s new with Disney Cruise Line including Disney Treasure, the sixth ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, as well as Disney’s second island destination in The Bahamas, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.   Plus, learn about the amazing destinations that Disney Cruise Line will visit in 2024 and early 2025
The magic of a Disney cruise isn’t just one thing—it’s everything your clients have ever wished for, sailing to new memories they’ll never forget. It’s where fun meets relaxation, where escape meets imagination, where dining meets storytelling, and Where Magic Meets the Sea.
Presented by John Leake, Sales Business Development Manager

Carnival Cruise Line

Excel Your Sales on the new Carnival Jubilee!
Join the Carnival team to learn about the newest Excel class ship, the Carnival Jubilee, which will not only provide “next level fun” but also “next level sales.” The Carnival Jubilee has it all with 6 unique zones including exciting entertainment and activities, like Bolt the Rollercoaster and Family Feud; amazing dining options including Emeril’s Bistro and Rudi’s Seagrill; as well as the magnificent Excel suites and so much more!  We will also share great insider tips so that you can maximize your sales and commissions.  Come join the FUN!
Presented by: Kirsten Sanchez, Director, CIAT, Carnival Cruise Line; Alicia Steuart, Senior Director of Sales, Key Accounts & CIA Team, Carnival Cruise Line

Playa Hotels and Resorts

Discovering Playa Hotels & Resorts: A Journey Through Our Brands & Resorts
WELCOME TO PLAYA HOTELS & RESORTS.  All-inclusive, but not all the same. Our luxury oceanfront resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean give you wide-open views of the beach, the ocean, and the world around you. Each all-inclusive resort is styled to fit its home, so you can truly experience the destination. We have all-inclusive oceanfront resorts in Cancun, Los Cabos, Montego Bay, Puerto Vallarta, Playa del Carmen and Cap Cana. While you revel in all our all-inclusive luxuries, we invite you to discover all the wonder our tropical destinations have to offer.
Presented by Jermaine Humphrey, Director of Sales, Playa Hotels & Resorts; Sonia Nunez, BDM, Playa Hotels & Resorts

Royal Caribbean

What’s New with Royal Caribbean?
What brand comes to mind when you think of the world's ultimate family vacation? Royal Caribbean can't wait to share the latest news, brand updates and more with you during CruiseWorld, so sign up NOW!
Presented by Ashley Gil, Account Executive, Host Agency Team, Royal Caribbean

10:00am – 11:00am Sponsored Workshops

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Flora confirms she’s the best in the Galapagos Islands with the only Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Rating in Ecuador
Join Susana Romero, Director of Galapagos Sales & Communications, on a journey to explore the enchanting flora and fauna of the Galapagos Islands. You will hear about how Celebrity Cruises combines luxury with sustainability and discover our 3 unique vessels including the eco-luxurious, all-suite mega yacht Celebrity Flora, now the only Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star resort in Ecuador. Learn about the seamless, all-inclusive packages, and unforgettable experiences Celebrity offers. Plus, find out how you can earn top commission on the bundled packages!
Presented by Susana Romero, Director of Galapagos Sales and Communications, Celebrity Cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line

Customizing Unique Experiences for your Next Event at Sea
Neil uses his expertise in the cruise industry to discuss the value of creating customized, unique, immersive experiences for groups. He will walk you through the most important drivers of an incentive experience based not only on industry trends but on his more than ten years of experience working with clients from different industries and how their mind-liked behavior is essential to developing an effective plan. This session will also cover the value of doing your next event at sea vs. a land-based event, the top trending destinations, and the importance of thinking out of the box when creating corporate events.
Presented by Neil Brodie, Sr. Director, CM&I Sales, Norwegian Cruise Line

Scenic and Emerald Cruises

An Intimate Take on Yacht and River Cruising
Join us to learn about more our award-winning luxury river and ocean cruises through Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Emerald Cruises brands featuring an unrivaled passenger focus. Scenic offers a truly all-inclusive luxury river cruising experience and sets the benchmark in 6-star ultra-luxury with Discovery Yachts that reach all seven continents. Emerald Cruises uncovers the celebrated waterways of Europe and Southeast Asia in contemporary luxury and showcases intimate ocean cruising at its finest on board our new luxury yachts.
Presented by Antolin Del Collado, Regional Sales Director, Florida & Puerto Rico, Scenic and Emerald Cruises 

Passport Online

Take control of your website and social media presence
Travel advisors need to spend their time selling travel, not managing a website and social media. Learn how to maximize your time and minimize your expenses. In this workshop you will walk away with solid ideas to immediately implement at little to no cost. Join us to learn how to use travel content and technology to be an extension of you and your brand.  We’ll show real examples of advisors promoting unique travel niches and making the most of their website and social channels. 

Learn to:

·      Keep an updated website

·      Promote your consortia or host exclusives, blocked group space, hosted trips/special itineraries and individual client vacations.

·      Use co-op marketing space on your site to offset costs.

·      Consistently post on social with curated content that talks to your customers

·      Integrate your bio/background, and unique travel photos into your website and social media.

·      Make your website mobile friendly.
Presented by Sarah Bauman, Director of Strategic Partnerships, and Jeanne Colombo, President, Passport Online

Windstar Cruises

Unlocking your group business potential presented by Windstar Cruises
Get ready to embark on a thrilling adventure with Windstar Cruises! Join us for a workshop where we will show you how to take your agency group business to the next level. With our innovative and exciting strategies, you'll learn how to create buzz, attract a diverse range of guests, and boost your revenue like never before.
Prepare to dive into the world of social media madness, where we'll unveil the secrets to creating viral content and reaching millions of potential customers. 
But it's not all work and no play! Who knows, you might just win a free cruise!
So, shake off the boring old ways of doing business and join us for a workshop that promises laughter, learning, and limitless opportunities. Get ready to set sail with Windstar Cruises and watch your agency group business soar to new heights!
Presented by Gina McGinnis, Director National Accounts, Windstar Cruises and Melissa Nessenson, Regional Sales Manager, Windstar Cruises

11:15am – 2:15pm General Session

Lunch, sponsored by Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Silversea Cruises

Presented by Katina Athanasiou, Senior Vice President, Sales & Services, Celebrity Cruises; Vicki Freed, CTC, SVP, Sales and Trade Support & Service, Royal Caribbean International; Joe Leon, Vice President of Sales – The Americas, Silversea Cruises

Presidents Panel

Michael Bayley, President & CEO, Royal Caribbean; Laura Hodges Bethge, President, Celebrity Cruises; Barbara Muckermann, President, Silversea Cruises

CEO Conversation

Jason Liberty, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group and Arnie Weissmann, Editor-in-Chief, Travel Weekly

TW Talk

Presented by Debbie Fiorino, COO, Dream Vacations

A Spotlight on Tipalti

Presented by Jeannie Sabaroff, VP, Sales, Tipalti

Pitch Perfect: River and Small-Ship Cruising

Suppliers will join two top-selling travel advisors for a live selling session. The advisors will pitch potential client opportunities and travel troubleshooting experiences and the suppliers on stage will sell these travel advisors on the best experience for the customers. The goal of these live sales sessions is for the attendees in the audience to hear the supplier pitch, watch the advisor ask follow-up questions and truly see how a perfect customer experience is curated.
Panelists include: Janet Bava, Chief Commercial Officer, Windstar Cruises; Marcus Leskovar, Executive Vice President, Amadeus River Cruises; Bruce Metzendorf, Sales Director North America, Riviera River Cruises; Alex Pinelo, Senior Vice President, Sales, AmaWaterways; Kristen Steele, Vice President, National & Key Accounts, Avalon Waterways | the Globus family of brands
Moderated by Lisa Fitzgerald, Founder, Fitzgerald Travel and Stephen Scott, Founder & CEO, Travel Hub 365

A spotlight on Israel Ministry of Tourism

Presented by Chad Martin, Director, Northeast Region, USA, Israel Ministry of Tourism

TW Talk

Presented by Shelly Ransom, VP, Business Development, Ensemble

Phocuswright presents the Travel Weekly Travel Industry Survey

Presented by Mitra Sorrells, Editor-in-Chief, PhocusWire

TW Talk

Presented by Michelle Fee, CEO & Founder, Cruise Planners

Impact Moment with Jenn Lee

Presented by Jenn Lee, Vice President Trade Engagement and Support, Travel Planners International

Exhibitor Showcase Kick Off and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, sponsored by Hertz

2:30pm – 5:00pm Exhibitor Showcase

Travel Institute graduates with: Certified Travel Associate (CTA) , Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) or Certified Travel Industry Executive (CTIE) who attend CruiseWorld will earn 10 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). CTAs, CTCs and CTIEs are required to obtain CEUs, to maintain certification in The Travel Institute. For more information visit www.thetravelinstitute.com