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This morning, top executives from major cruise lines got their cruisitude on by trading in traditional business attire for funky and memorable firefighter, Uncle Sam and pilot costumes.  Each executive shared how agents can benefit from their line's incentive programs. Below are the top take away tips from each panel presenter:

"Corporate Group Incentive Travel, Meeting Groups & Individual Incentive Travel" - Ron Gulaskey, Director of Corporate Sales & Charters for Celebrity Cruises / Azamara:

- Avoid old-school thinking by selling to corporations and using incentive sales
- When booking corporations, add onboard activities to increase commission
- Get 100+ new clients by going to corporations and contacting all who cruise
- Get in front of corporate decision-makers and even travel with them to form relationships

Angela DeDomenico, Cruise Planners Franchise Owner:

- Work with a life coach who can train you to be a better executive and put you in contact with  corporations they work with
- Buy a list of potential cruiser names and work with a company to contact them

"Military Fares and Incentive Program," - Adolfo Perez, VP Worldwide Reservations Sales, Carnival Cruise Lines:

- Military is close-knit community, so start building your database of military guests
- Register your military deals on Web sites that list military special offers
- November is Military Month, so check back for specials during that time (2009: During this month, two additional cabins can be booked per one military cruiser)


Joel Wilder, Cruise Planners Franchise Owner:

- Reach out to local veteran groups to continue building your military community
- Use CPCentral to process all proper documentation - do as much as you can in advance


"NCL: Union Programs" - Wayne Peyreau, National Director Field Sales Business Development

- Capture as much information as possible including union membership numbers since identification is important
- Reach out to local unions, most have monthly meetings where you may be able to speak to the group
- Check out www.Aflcio.org, America's Union Movement, to see what groups to reach out to


GianCarlo Bruno, Cruise Planners Franchise Owner:

- Don't over-promise and make sure to target each union with best cruise options
- Compare the group rate with the best available rate to see if you can save the customer even more money

"Holland America Line: Community Rates" - Chris Stevens, Director of Sales, Eastern Division

- Community Appreciation Fares are for teachers, EMTs, firefighters, police officers, active military
- There are more than 6.2 million teachers...a huge a potential market
- Great stat: 37,670 possible Community Appreciation customers for every person at the CP Convention

Bob Zweig, Cruise Planners Franchise Owner:

- Use your community connections and children's activities to network
- It's not who you know, it's who you know knows. So, ask lots of questions to everyone in your life
- Be careful who you sell incentive rates to, double check all the qualifications and rates beforehand
- Be up front and honest with customers of what you are selling so there are no surprises onboard

Make sure you take advantage of all of these incentive programs and get out there in your community - you never know who might want to cruise.

- Caitlin Murphy