One of the most active foreign cruise operators on the Russian market - Costa Cruises launches a large-scale loyalty program for travel agents Costa Club Professional … Members of the privileged club will receive many benefits, including a special status, unique open source software, participation in Costa events. We talk about details and nuances with the CEO Cruise center "Infoflot" (one of the priority partners of Costa Cruises) Andrey Mikhailovsky.
Andrey, why is this club being created, and who can become its member?
- Launching Costa Club Professional is part of the Italian company's large-scale expansion program in the Russian market. The club is designed for travel agencies that would like to significantly increase their portfolio of cruise products Costa Cruises and benefit from this. Any agency can become a member of the loyalty program, however there are some restrictions for joining the Club. The loyalty program was created exclusively for independent travel agencies. Offsite tour operator companies or travel agent networks are not accepted for participation.
How can an agency join the elite community?
- The most important thing is to clearly understand that cruises are one of the most actively developing and promising segments of the tourism industry, the Russian cruise tourist flow annually grows by an average of 35-40%.
Next, the travel agent needs to determine with whom it will cooperate on Costa products and select one of the Cruise Company's Priority Partners. Cruise Center "Infoflot", for example, is such a partner and, among other things, together with Costa, makes "Russian groups" on foreign flights with their escorts, excursions, menus, on-board newspaper in Russian and other additional services.
After choosing a partner, the agent fills out a questionnaire, after which Costa opens access to the booking system - Costa Extra, where the agent can manage his sales of the company's cruises in his personal account.
This system also contains marketing materials from the cruise operator, information about Costa Specials, sweepstakes, sales, current news.
Let's say the agency has chosen Infoflot as its “guide” to the world of Costa cruises. How can he indicate his interest in the project?
- It is enough to write an application in free form to [email protected]. We will then send a questionnaire and redirect it to Costa Cruises.
What does participation in the Club give the agency?
“Costa is providing comprehensive training by approving the agency’s participation in its program. Among other things, a newcomer undergoes Costa Academy, personal training on the product and the use of the Costa Extra system, and Mystery Shopper testing.
Further, Club members will be able to receive the Costa Ambassador status. In addition, among the privileges - invitations to various events, for example, Costa Sales Academy, Costa business breakfasts, inspection of liners in St. Petersburg.
The most important thing is that from each sold cruise, the agent will start to "drip" points into the agent's piggy bank, which can be used to pay for cruises.
Please tell us more about the scoring system
- Agencies will earn points for each individual Costa cruise booking in the system and see related reports on a weekly basis.
Points will be earned on bookings made in the current fiscal year. Their effect will be valid only until the end of the financial year, in this case - until November 30, 2020.
You can use points in two ways. The first involves paying up to 50% of the cruise rate for one cabin for a travel agency employee. And the second is the payment for Costa cruises for agency clients - up to 50 euros (in terms of points, in one application), but no more than 10 cabins and until November 1, 2020.
What new items will Costa offer tourists in 2020?
- Undoubtedly, Costa Cruises is one of the leaders in creating new cruise products for Russians, and this year is no exception. So, already now, on the Infoflot website, new cruises in the Far East, Japan and Korea are available with embarkation and disembarkation in the port of Vladivostok. These trips will take place on the neoRomantica liner.
Tourists can choose from routes lasting 4-8 days and costing from 399 euros per person. This amount includes the cruise itself and accommodation in the cabin, meals (full board), port tax, entertainment and educational programs, as well as the services of a Russian-speaking employee on board.
It is important that children under the age of 18 travel on the cruise free of charge on additional seats in the cabin with two adults.
Undoubtedly, this product will be in great demand in our country. In general, it should be noted that today there are few cruises in Japan and South Korea on the market, and the demand for Asian destinations in Russia is growing. In addition, travel with departure from a Russian city makes the product unique, and for the price this offer is perhaps the most attractive available today. We supported our partner in this project with great interest and optimism.
Another great news for Russians - at the end of 2019, the new flagship ship Costa Cruises - Costa Smeralda departed for its first cruise on the route Savona - Marseille - Barcelona - Palma de Mallorca - Civitavecchia - La Spezia - Savona on the island of Sardnnia in Cagliari).
Russian tourists have actively reacted to the appearance in our arsenal of cruises on the Costa Smeralda. New Year's cruises on the new liner were completely sold out. By the way, this interesting route can be taken all year round from several cities in Europe. There is a possibility of landing in Rome (Civitavecchia), Barcelona, Marseille and Savona.
Costa Smeralda is the first cruise ship in the world to run on liquefied natural gas - the most environmentally friendly fuel. It offers tourists 20 decks with 2 612 cabins, which can accommodate 6 522 people.
It is important to note that Costa Cruises, more than other cruise operators, pays attention to the Russian-language service on their Golden Liners. In 2020, Golden Cruises will operate on 10 routes instead of 5 in 2019. So, in winter, Costa Diadema goes on cruises from Dubai along the Persian Gulf, Costa Mediterranea - along the Indian Ocean, Costa Fortuna - from Singapore to Southeast Asia, and Costa Victoria - to the Maldives.
In the summer of 2020, Costa Diadema and Costa Pacifica will cruise in the Mediterranean, Costa Magica in Northern Europe from St. Petersburg, and Costa Luminosa in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Costa Smeralda, which I have already described a little above, will cruise the Mediterranean Sea all year round, joining the "golden squad".
On the company's Golden Liners, travelers from Russia will not feel the language barrier. They are expected by Russian-speaking staff on board, a Russian-speaking animator in the children's club, Russian TV channels, a special entertainment program, and Russian cuisine on the menu. And, what is especially important, excursions in cities will be offered to tourists in Russian.
Excursion packages with a Russian-speaking guide for each Golden Liner include 2 excursions in Russian at a special cost.
