Riviera Travel has confirmed it will host 100 agents across 10 river cruise and escorted tour familiarisation trips in 2024

River cruise options will include itineraries on the Rhone and the Seine, with tours in Europe also available. Each trip will be accompanied by a member of Riviera’s trade sales team.

Agents can register their interest by emailing [email protected]. Dates and additional itinerary details will be announced shortly.

It comes after the company revealed wave trading through its travel agent partners is up 50% year-on-year, which it attributed to the increase in greater engagement with agents and focus on strengthening its trade team.

Vicky Billing, head of trade and partnerships at Riviera, said: “We understand that experiencing our product first-hand is the best way for travel agents to improve their knowledge and consequently boost their Riviera sales.

“These fam trips will showcase all the elements that make Riviera unique, such as our innovative itineraries, unbeatable onboard service and carefully curated shore excursions. We’ve received excellent feedback for our previous trips and can’t wait for the trade to travel again in 2024.”

Riviera Travel continues trade focus

The 60% increase in fam trip places is the latest in a string of moves from Riviera designed to bolster its ties with the trade.

Riviera confirmed Chris McCloskey and Lloyd Morris joined its sales team on Monday (22 January) as key account manager for Scotland and Ireland and key account manager for the UK and Ireland respectively.

Prior to that, the line introduced a trade incentive for January and February, with prizes worth up to £40,000 on offer.