Scenic & Emerald Cruises Info Sessions Empower Advisors in Luxury Cruising
by Marsha Mowers
The Scenic & Emerald River Cruise Info Sessions for Spring/Summer are coming to an end as the 20-city cross-Canada show wraps up later this month in Regina, SK. The sessions happen seasonally, 3x a year to align with the prime river cruise booking season.
The sessions are open to consumers and all travel advisors, whether they’re new to river cruising or seasoned pros. Advisors are encouraged to bring qualified clients, making the sessions a powerful closing tool. Attendees range from consumers who are simply curious about river cruising to loyal Scenic and Emerald guests who already know the value of the luxury cruise experiences and are eager to hear what’s new for the upcoming year.
Travel Market Report Canada spoke with Mary Lynn Villeneuve, Business Development Manager, Key Accounts, Ontario to learn more about the sessions and their importance to advisors.
“Our goal is twofold; to inspire our guests and share information about Scenic & Emerald River cruising in Europe and South East Asia. The info sessions educate and empower our travel advisor partners while helping them close sales in the luxury river cruise space,” said Villeneuve.
“These sessions go beyond product presentations—they’re designed to build advisor confidence, enhance trust with clients, and drive bookings. By showcasing the value of the Scenic and Emerald experience, we help travel advisors convert curiosity into confirmed reservations.”
Villeneuve says that as a global award winning Australian based company they’re seeing strong momentum out of the Canadian market in 2025. Advisors are increasingly confident selling their luxury product, and they’re seeing high engagement thanks to targeted Canadian marketing and the info sessions, regional call centre support, and exclusive promotions tailored to market.
“We’ve identified several key trends shaping travel preferences; we’re starting to notice more inquiries about Multigenerational Travel with families seeking immersive experiences across generations. Southeast Asia is experiencing a spike in interest, driven by travellers looking for more authentic and culturally rich journeys,” she tells us.
“There’s growing demand for longer cruises and extended land packages, which aligns with Scenic’s heritage as a land tour operator and we’re also seeing a noticeable shift in demographics, with a rise in younger, affluent travellers who are choosing to experience luxury river cruising earlier in life rather than waiting for retirement.”
Villeneuve says the events are essential to both the company and advisors. For Scenic and Emerald, they strengthen brand visibility, foster loyalty, and inspire travellers to explore river cruising as an accessible and enriching way to see the world. For travel advisors, the sessions offer a valuable opportunity to deepen product knowledge, build confidence, and strengthen client relationships.
“We handle the education and inspiration—advisors handle the trust and the sale. It’s a collaborative model that works.”
Villeneuve is currently working on details for an upcoming Travel Advisor Training Series later this year, which will focus on refreshing existing knowledge and welcoming new partners to the Scenic and Emerald family. These in-person sessions will cover product updates, insider tips, sales strategies, and available tools and resources to help advisors grow their business.
In the meantime, advisors are encouraged to explore Scenic & Emerald’s wealth of resources, including:
- Up-to-date promotional materials and flyers in their bi-weekly trade newsletters
- Access to their Luxury Yacht Ocean Travel Lounges—intimate, VIP-style events where advisors invite qualified clients to discover their luxury ocean products
- Ongoing River Info Sessions and training events. The next round will be in October, stay tuned!
- Agent Academy training platform, social media channels, and YouTube video libraries
Travel agents can reach out directly to their local BDM for more information, ask questions, or to express interest in participating in any of the programs.
