Dana McPherson, Vice President of Platinum Seminars, presented last week’s coffee break live from Buenos Aires. He gave a great presentation on how to sell to the luxury market during these trying times. We received some great questions, which I posted below with Dana’s answers. If you have any additional questions please leave a comment below or e-mail Dana at dana@platinumseminars.com. Please be sure to check out the recorded version of the webinar by clicking the link at the bottom of this page.
Q. Can you explain a little more about the benefit of attending PLS Symposium?
A. The Symposium is for our PLS members and runs about 2 hours. We provide some of the best speakers in the industry at your exposure. The speakers will inform you what is going on in the industry with their products and will allow you to ask them any questions at the end of their presentation. Normally if you were to see them at a big show you would be one of 1500 and when they get off the stage they are done. We provide a very intimate setting of only about 100 agents and afterwards you are able to meet them and ask any questions. That is the benefit of attending- Platinum Seminars is all about the luxury and being intimate.
Q. How does one become a PLS member?
A. It is very easy to become a PLS member and does not cost a thing! To become a member please go to www.platinumseminars.com and click the tab PLS. Once you click on the tab please just type in your e-mail address. Once you provide your e-mail address you are done- it is really that easy! Please know that there are no membership fees and we also do not charge a membership fee for our seminars. The rate you see on our website is what you (and your companion) will pay. We also only need one CLIA or IATAN card per cabin, so your companion does not have to be in this industry to attend. We also invite you to bring your companions to our PLS Symposium because it is full of good knowledge, besides being fun, no matter what field you are in.
Q. If we sail single, what is the single supplement?
A. Our website provides a couple of cruise lines that do offer a break on single supplements, unfortunately though we have to pay double for most of the cruise lines. What that means is we have to pay 2 full cruise fares plus 2 port charges for a full 200%. We apologize for this but there is nothing we can do about it. Currently right now Royal Caribbean Celebrity is offering a slight break by only charging 1 port charge but you will still have to pay 2 full cruise fares and 1 port charge. The rest of the cruise lines hold us to 200%.
Q. Why do you not accept OSSN?
A. This has been an ongoing question and I really cannot address it too much other than to say we only accept IATAN and CLIA cards. The cruise lines have told us we can only accept IATAN and CLIA cards. You are more than welcome to ask IATAN but that is all the information I have.
Q. If I am an outside agent can I use my company’s CLIA card or do I have to have one myself?
A. At Platinum Seminars we allow you to sign up with the CLIA certificate but in order to go on board you must have a CLIA card. Even though we accept the CLIA certificate to sign up we recommend having a CLIA or IATAN card. It is our credentials that make us professional agents. If your company has a CLIA certificate I believe it is $29 or $49 to get your CLIA card so why not be a proud agent and carry that card. If you are a brand new agent, for example you started last week, you would not need a card because you wouldn’t have one. We would, however, need to know something is in progress.
Q. Can you please spell the 2 hotels mentioned in the beginning of the seminar?
A. The first hotel I mentioned is Alvear Palace and their website is www.AlvearPalace.com. The second hotel I mentioned is The Hotel Faena and Universe and you will have to do a search for it. They are a hip, cool, funky hotel that is terribly luxurious and expensive. I believe their pricing starts at $600 a night. Please also note that even though they are in pesos their hotels are billed in dollars. They are both beautiful hotels.
Q. Can we sail as a triple?
A. Some of the cruise lines do allow you to sometimes sail as a triple. The Princess allows you sometimes, NCL most of the time, Regent sometimes, Royal Caribbean Celebrity no, Oceania sometimes and Windstar sometimes. Many times we can offer that you will just have to email me to ask. My e-mail is dana@platinumseminars.com and I promise to respond to you quickly.
Q. Can you please repeat the details of the platinum seminar aboard the Navigator of the Seas? What is the cost?
A. For those details please go to www.platinumseminars.com and click on the tab PLS. When you click on that tab you will be provided with all the information. The cost is $49 per agent or companion.
Q. Will you have any CLIA classes on the cruises that are already on your website?
A. That is an excellent question. We usually offer CLIA classes about twice a year. We bring CLIA on board for those classes and usually have about 50-60 agents to train. Unfortunately at this time we do not have any scheduled. It usually takes us about 6 months out to get with CLIA’s schedule because they are very busy, as you can imagine, training all over America. Please just watch your faxes, emails, and our website to know when these will be offered. You will see a huge banner that says CLIA as we have to differentiate it since this is the only time we offer CLIA training.
Q. Do you recommend the company, Destination Europe, for purchasing air that is on your website.
A. Yes, I highly recommend them. We actually just did a trip with them a few months ago to Iceland. We went with a group of about 15-20 people, which also included the president of Destination Europe, the president of Platinum Seminars, and myself. We flew business class from NY to Iceland and flying business class was very nice. In Iceland we stayed at a beautiful Hilton and did a land package. The land package included hotel, food, transfers, we even went four wheeling in the Tundra and did Whale Watching. That was one of the great things offered by Destination Europe. So I can vouch for them personally and hope you check them out. You can find the # to Destination Europe on our website. Please note that the # on our website is not a general line but a private line for Platinum Seminars. It is only for Platinum Seminar agents. So please check them out, I highly recommend them.
Q. Will this webinar be available to view again?
A. Yes it has been posted on MailPound. Please click here to view.