Preferred Supplier Spotlight: Dianne Pierson, Viking Cruises
Written by: Guest on August 08, 2016
Dianne Pierson, our Business Development Director from Viking Cruises, majored in art education in college. While visiting Paris after she graduated, she fulfilled one of her lifelong dreams of seeing the Mona Lisa at the Louvre.
This trip made her realize that she could experience the world’s most celebrated art and architecture through travel. The best way to incorporate travel into her routine was to work in the industry!
Her career in travel began in 1994 at one of the first call centers in the country, The Vacation Store. She says she sold so many Carnival Cruises while taking inbound calls that she started to actually win free trips, and she fell in love with cruising.
“But, I wanted to do more,” says Dianne. “With my background in education I realized the best way to marry my interests and skills would be as a vendor representative. My strongest assets are in doing consumer presentations and agent trainings.”
She recently celebrated her fourth anniversary at Viking, and before that she spent 11 years with Princess and Cunard.
It’s no surprise that her favorite aspect of being a BDM is sharing Viking’s brand and message with her travel agent partners and their clients.
“I am very lucky that I am now able to use those strengths representing the most awarded river cruise company in the industry!” she says.
Dianne believes that relationships play a key role when it comes to selling the Viking brand. The benefits offered by a host agency are also a major part of the equation.
With ongoing educational opportunities, product updates, and strong relationships with suppliers, KHM Travel Group is able to provide a launching pad for success.
“KHM kind of takes me back to my roots,” adds Dianne. “This is a dynamic, progressive company focused on supporting agents in their own businesses. Training is everything but positive relationships are also a key component.”
River cruising continues to be one of the fastest-growing segments of the travel industry, and Viking has been a leader in river cruising since its foundation in 1994.
In 2015, Viking took their reputation for quality and their destination-focused cruising style to the ocean cruising market. They’ve seen an equal amount of success with their new fleet of ocean-going ships, and the line was recently named the No. 1 Ocean Cruise Line by Travel + Leisure magazine readers in the 2016 World’s Best Awards.
Current KHM Travel Agents can learn more about our partnership with Viking and what the cruise line offers agents in their Portal.
Want to work with travel industry’s leading suppliers, and earn top commissions as a travel agent? KHM Travel provides our home-based travel agents with the connections and tools they need to succeed!
Learn more about getting your travel career started by requesting our free information packet. Just fill out the form on the right side of the screen or call 1-888-611-1220 to request it.