SeaDream Yacht Club is providing ways for home based agents to maximize their time efficiency and professionalism, according to Bob Lepisto, senior vice president of sales and marketing for the line.

“Every E-mail we send to agents is customizable,” he said. “Independent sellers can send our most current available information to their entire database by clicking on a link to customize the material. It comes out as their own call to action offered in the most timely possible manner with the greatest efficiency.”

In addition, SeaDream offers two complimentary teleconference training programs, each generally presented three times a month. One is called the SeaDream product introduction and explains the distinction between their yachting product and conventional cruising, while also showing agents how to prospect for clients. The other focuses on selling small groups to full ship charters.

“Agents should know that many clients don’t think they can sell charters,” Lepisto said. The agents need to plant seeds with clients, and even full ship charter is not the huge task that agents think it is. With us, if there are 50 couples, you have a charter, and agents earn up to $60,000 commission on a one-week charter.”

Lepisto noted that SeaDream has quite a few charters with private individuals who wanted to find a special way to celebrate events like a 50th birthday. “Or you could get a group of people who went to a private school together as a group. They are all turning 50 together and if you have five couples who each bring 10, you have a charter,” he added. “You don’t have to be a Fortune 500 company or a major incentive house to do charters.”

Both forms of training leave considerable space for questions and answers and for agents to share techniques and ideas, and Lepisto said there are some agents who take the courses more than once for inspiration and refreshment.

“It’s very good for them — we get great turnout and tremendous feedback — and it’s great for us,” he stated. “Travel sellers have so many products they can use, it’s very important for us to stay top of mind with them. The issue for any supplier is how to connect with the distribution system in the most efficient way possible, and this works well for us all.”

Lepisto said that SeaDream is seeing booking much farther out than in recent years. “We have an extra strong Mediterranean season and we’re now focusing on helping agents sell fall in the Caribbean,” he said. “We also have special trans-Atlantic sailings from the Mediterranean, one 19-day from Seville that ends in Palm Beach; the other, shorter one sails from Seville to San Juan.”

He said the line is not only bringing on board enrichment speakers in wellness and world affairs for these cruises, but they are offering an exceptionally strong spa program with eight massage therapists serving just over 100 guests.

“It’s like all sales: you have to understand the product, know how to find the right clients and bring them together,” Lepisto said. “And, we will go to all lengths to connect with the agents. We give teleconferences in Spanish or hold them at 9 p.m. for Australians who need a morning session.”

Agents can call SeaDream at (800) 707-4911 or visit the agent section of www.seadreamyachtclub.com for a list of upcoming training sessions. Once an agent registers an E-mail address, SeaDream will send announcements of upcoming opportunities. Although Lepisto feels the live sessions are the most desirable ones because of the opportunity to ask questions and share, sessions are archived and can be accessed by request outside the scheduled times.