CLIA seeking ‘better connections’ via YouTube channel

By Laura Del Rosso

CLIA unveiled Cruise Industry TV, a YouTube channel with videos aimed at consumers, travel agents and the cruise industry.

The content includes a message from Bob Sharak, CLIA executive vice president, describing CLIA's certification programs and the value of the designations to sharpen knowledge and the ability for agents to promote expertise to customers.

CLIA agents can share consumer-targeted video on the channel to showcase their expertise as CLIA members. One two-minute video aimed at the general public explains the benefits of using a certified agent, likening booking a cruise without a certified agent to undergoing surgery with an unskilled surgeon.

“Videos are a great, easily shareable way for us to explain the many different areas and unique features of the industry,” said David Peiken, a CLIA public affairs spokesman.

“We hope certified travel agents will use Cruise Industry TV to learn about topics ranging from the industry’s certification processes to some of the most popular options for cruisers, which will help create even better connections between the agents and their customers,” he said. “We look forward to the feedback from our incredible base of certified travel agent members to see what they have found most useful and how Cruise Industry TV has allowed them to provide even better service to their customers.”

Other videos offer tips and features to help vacationers book a cruise and an industry section highlights operational practices.

“Cruise Industry TV is the one-stop hub for videos about the industry and its commitments to its passengers, the environment, health and safety, and communities around the world,” Peiken said. “Our goal with Cruise Industry TV is to ensure the latest video content about the industry is easy to find and easy to share, and YouTube is the best platform to do both.”

Cruise Industry TV  is designed to complement CLIA’s other social media, including Duffy’s CEO Blog, Twitter feed and CLIA’s cruise fan Facebook and Twitter pages.