Royal Caribbean has announced a host of updates to its Club Royal agent loyalty programme including the addition of a Platinum card.
The scheme, which has 10,500 members, has also been adapted to make it easier for agents to reach Gold card status.
There were previously 108 Gold card holders, but with the change there are now 178. There are now 18 Platinum card members.
Royal Caribbean’s UK and Ireland sales director, Ben Bouldin, unveiled the updates at a party for trade partners, to mark Club Royal’s second year.
The line has also introduced a booking service in partnership with Travel Industry Services (TIS) for Club Royal members, and a new competition for the chance to win a place on a trip to Hong Kong, running during the wave period.
Previously a two-tiered membership scheme, Royal Caribbean’s new Platinum level will be instantly applicable to anyone who has successfully registered more than 200 bookings through their Club Royal account between September 24 2015 and September 23 2016.
Blue card members (1-75 annual bookings) will receive £5 credit per booking, a £10 birthday bonus and £100 of Royal Caribbean holiday cashback; and Gold members (75-200 bookings per year) will receive £5 credit per booking, a £25 birthday bonus, £300 Royal
Caribbean holiday cashback, as well as the chance to double credit for seven days twice a year.
The new Platinum status (more than 200 annual bookings) will entitle the agent to £7.50 credit per booking, a £25 birthday bonus, £350 Royal Caribbean holiday cashback and the ability to double credit for seven days four times per year.
The line said “following feedback” all Club Royal members will be able to clearly see on their personal dashboard how close they are to reaching the next level.
Once members are all allocated their level this week, the number of bookings will then be reset back to zero, with agents having a year to hit retention or promotion levels.
Bouldin also revealed a ‘Ride the Wave to Hong Kong’ competition for the wave booking period.
Club Royal members will have the opportunity to participate for the chance to win one of 15 spaces on a five-day all-expenses-paid trip to Hong Kong. Further details of how to participate will be announced later this year.
The new partnership with TIS, which will be available from October 3, will enable members to book a Royal Caribbean holiday using their Club Royal pre-paid MasterCard and redeem their holiday cashback.
Members booking through the service will receive a 20% reduction on the cost of their travel insurance for the holiday and a credit card booking charge of 1%.
Club Royal members will also now receive a selection of bi-weekly exclusive offers on Royal Caribbean holidays, as well as a monthly joint newsletter, highlighting the best deals and providing advanced notification of exclusive hotel offers, including free upgrades, free
night offers and free child places.
Bouldin said: “We truly value the support of our agency partners and are committed to not only providing them with an extraordinary loyalty programme, but also to finding new ways to engage with them in new and exciting ways.
“We look forward to welcoming agents on our upcoming Ride the Wave to Hong Kong trip, which promises to be our biggest and best Club Royal trip yet.”