ONBOARD THE CRYSTAL SYMPHONY -- Crystal Cruises launched a Crystal Partner Advisory Council during its sales gala here.
The council consists of 13 agents and will be led by Carmen Roig, Crystal's senior vice president of marketing and sales. Members will regularly provide feedback on agent programs, future newbuilds and the types of luxury experiences their clients want. It will also participate in quarterly meetings to review the cruise line's strategic plans. The first meeting will be held in Los Angeles this July.
The inaugural council will consist of Oded Battat of Traveland; Leah Bergner of Coastline Travel Advisors; David Brandon of Savenio; Deborah Deming of Frosch Travel; Michelle Fee of Cruise Planners; Susan Gannon of Ensemble Travel; Jason Jenkins of Cruise Vacations; Edwina Lonsdale of Mundy Cruising; Eric Maryanov of All-Travel.com; Craig Pavlus of Pavlus Travel; Gary Pollard of Ambassador Tours; Mary Jean Tully of Tully Luxury Travel; and Ruth Turpin of Cruises Etc Travel. Each will hold a two-year term.
Roig said the council was established "to ensure that we listen" to what agents have to say and that their input and feedback "is part of every decision that we make."