| TM’s new cruise tool

TRAVELMANAGERS (TM) has introduced a powerful new customer-facing cruise tool to enhance the experience for its members’ clients.

The new platform provides real-time inventory and information from more than 30 different ocean cruise lines, with river to be added soon.

The tool is designed to complement the in-house cruise wholesaler Fastbook, which launched in Sep, as revealed by this masthead (CW 13 Sep).

“Fastbook provides our PTMs with a wholesale platform that offers live, 24/7 availability and integrates with our back-office system,” Cruise Product Manager Lia Malone explained.

“Now each PTM can also customise their website to extend that seamless online experience to their clients.”

PTM Ange Bowerman, based in Dromedary, Tas, said the new tool makes her website more valuable to herself and her clients.

“The new platform means [my clients] can now access a wealth of information through my own website,” Bowerman said.

“I can also send recommendations via the platform so my clients can study the options I’ve selected for them in more detail.

“This demonstrates duality in the customer experience: the ability to be part of the planning, with the security of the PTM taking care of everything.”

TravelManagers’ cruise sales grew 30% last year, the revealed in Jan (CW 31 Jan).

The growth was particularly fuelled by international cruise – a lucrative prospect for the agency network’s members. MS

Pictured is Malone with General Manager Cruise Jeff Leckey and Cruise Operations Executive Leeanne Freeman.