BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) have announced today that they will be exclusively providing the official travel agent training programme at the Seatrade Med Cruise Convention taking place in Barcelona this September.

Hundreds of travel agents from across Spain will be attending the tenth edition of Seatrade Med to participate in the bespoke training programme, aimed at both sales and customer service staff at travel agencies in the region.

The one-day training programme will look at the principles of professional selling, how to deliver great customer service, clever ways to close the sale and relationship management. This will be complemented by a ship visit the following day, to give the agents a full 360-degree view of the industry.

As well as participating in the training, the agents will have the opportunity to visit the exhibition, including the destination pavilions and the brand new cruise line exhibitor zone.

The 2014 Seatrade Med travel agent training programme is fully supported by ACAVE, an association comprising of more than 500 travel agencies across Barcelona and Spain.

With recent figures from the Port of Barcelona showing that 2.6 million passengers visited the port in 2013, with 835 cruise ship calls, this is an ideal time for travel agents in the region to be involved in the training at Seatrade Med.

For more information about the 2014 Seatrade Med Cruise Convention, please visit cruiseshippingevents.com/med

The Seatrade Med Cruise Convention is owned and organised by UBM in partnership with Seatrade and in association with the Port of Barcelona.

Editor – Nina Marston at Seatrade, tel +44 1206 545121 or email nmarston@seatrade-global.com

About Seatrade Med

The Seatrade Med Cruise Convention, the major biennial cruise event focused on the world's second largest cruise destination – the Mediterranean, will gather in Barcelona, Spain from September 16-18, 2014 at Fira de Barcelona Gran Via Conference Centre. Owned and organized by UBM Live in partnership with Seatrade Communications Ltd, Seatrade Med is Europe's most prestigious cruise event, welcoming over 4,000 attendees and 300 exhibiting suppliers and service providers to the Mediterranean cruise market. Part of UBM Live's growing Cruise Shipping Portfolio, Seatrade Med features a comprehensive conference featuring high-profile speakers, an exhibition, a travel agent training component, and valuable networking events.

About CLIA

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is the world's largest cruise industry trade association with representation in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australasia. CLIA represents the interests of cruise lines, travel agents, port authorities and destinations, and various industry business partners before regulatory and legislative policy makers.

About UBM Live

UBM Live connects people and creates opportunities for companies across five continents to develop new business, meet customers, launch new products, promote their brands and expand their markets. Through premier brands such as Routes, CPhI, IFSEC, TFM&A, Cruise Shipping Miami, the Concrete Show and many others, UBM Live exhibitions, conferences, awards programs, publications, websites and training and certification programs are an integral part of the marketing plans of companies across more than 20 industry sectors.

About Seatrade

Established 40 years ago, Seatrade is a leader in cruise and maritime publications, conferences and exhibitions, training, awards and other special projects.  Regular events include international trade exhibitions and conferences across all maritime sectors, management training courses for shipping professionals, training seminars for travel agents and award schemes, including the Seatrade Insider Cruise Awards. Seatrade publications include magazines, supplements and yearbooks, whilst Seatrade Insider provides daily cruise news online at www.seatrade-insider.com

SOURCE Seatrade Med