Ahoy! An onboard training experience

Audience

Tour operators, travel agents

The Brief

With the development of the cruise segment identified as a key strategic priority for The Islands of Tahiti, we designed an initiative to effectively communicate the uniqueness of this offering to the Italian travel trade. As bringing a large number of agents to the destination was not feasible, we brought the experience to them, creating opportunities for as many travel professionals as possible to step on board and gain a first-hand understanding of the product.

The objective was to strengthen awareness and product knowledge of the cruise option (particularly of Windstar Cruises, one of the destination’s key operators), positioning it as a distinctive and compelling alternative to traditional accommodation.

The Project

A series of exclusive ship visits for selected travel professionals took place across three major Italian port cities: Venice, Civitavecchia, and Naples. In total, 47 travel agents and tour operators were welcomed on board a Windstar vessel, sister ship to those sailing in The Islands of Tahiti, during its Mediterranean itinerary.

The experience offered participants a guided onboard tour led by the ship’s staff, allowing them to explore the product first-hand, while a dedicated presentation and briefing by the Tourism Hub team further deepened their understanding of the offering. This dual approach reinforced the positioning of the cruise experience as a unique and premium travel solution.

By combining immersive training with targeted trade engagement, the initiative successfully inspired the industry and strengthened the appeal of cruising within the destination’s product portfolio.