The Advantage Travel Partnership, the UK’s largest independent travel agent partnership, is rebranding and enhancing its cruise product to change the way people think about the cruise industry and ensure its members have all the tools they need to maximise their earning opportunity.

Previously called Cruise Champs, The Advantage Cruise community is aimed at members who are committed to expanding their knowledge of the sector to grow and diversify. Advantage supports members in the community by providing a platform to share ideas and maximise business.

Staying true to the community’s ethos of growing and diversifying, Advantage is shaking things up with a new direction for the community and rebrand to become Latitude.

John Sullivan, Head of Commercial, The Advantage Travel Partnership, said: “The cruise industry is ever evolving, with new ships, routes and investment every day, and so it is crucial to keep on the pulse in order to run a lucrative cruise business. It is impossible for one agent to keep track of the immense amount of information out there, which is why we have created Latitude to combine and collate knowledge, whilst offering support to our members. There’s a whole new ‘yet to cruise’ demographic which we want to help our agents reach and it is through collaborating, thinking out of the box and pooling knowledge that it will happen.”

Latitude will be led by Advantage’s dedicated Cruise Commercial Manager, Jonny Peat and will be shaped by four key elements: Communication, Training, Commercial and Marketing.

Communication: collaboration and communication are crucial for the member’s development and earning power. As part of the rebrand, Advantage will boost communication with members, sharing supplier news, video roundups and re-launch the Facebook group to create a safe online space to update members on the latest news and deals. Advantage will also tailor support to each member’s area of growth.

Training: the CLIA Certification is the only program in the industry focussed solely on selling, marketing and growing cruise businesses. Advantage has secured a deal for Latitude members to join the program and gain certifications. Latitude members will also benefit from monthly supplier zoom call with cruise partners and exclusive experiential opportunities such as FAM trips, supplier cruise events and the over-subscribed annual Cruise Conference.

Commercial: a key aim of the community is to enhance member’s earning opportunities. Through Latitude, members will have access to exclusive supplier incentives from money can’t buy experiences to weekly cash draws. Advantage also works closely with suppliers to offer a large choice of sellable product.

Marketing:  Latitude will give members cruise focused marketing support, particularly for key events such as Cruise Month and the Wave Awards. Members will also have access to social media and digital assets, the ‘Navigate’ customer magazine, blog content and an online brochure rack.

Latitude is now live and available to The Advantage Travel Partnership members.