From Travel Trade this afternoon, they are stating that an editing error gave the wrong impression. Not wanting to be accused of not telling the other side of the story, here is the excerpt:
Carnival Item Was Wrong Tue Apr 15 2008, by TravelTrade Staff In the Travel Trade email blast on Monday, April 14, the news item under the headline "Carnival Increases Direct Communications" was wrong because of an editing error that resulted in incomplete information. Carnival Cruise Lines is not moving to more direct marketing as the item wrongly implied. Rather, its contract with SAS technology, which the news item reported, aims to analyze the effectiveness of its existing marketing programs. Based on an editing error, a section of the Carnival quote within the SAS release, which discussed driving business to travel agents, was deleted. The full quote from Shannon Balliet-Antorcha, director of database marketing and customer data integration at Carnival, stated, "We increased berths and we want more cruisers to ask travel agents to book their cruise on Carnival. Customers appreciate Carnival's wide range of vacation choices. More effective marketing campaigns will build brand preference and contribute to filling this new capacity. Using SAS Marketing Automation, we expect a better return on marketing investment."
Now, I am not buying it 100% yet; but hey it's their story and they can stick to it. Remember, Carnival was in the malls at one point. I am wondering if this is a correction...or a backpedal.
I'm not falling for it either. I do believe it's damage control based on their direct marketing approach to former clients booked through travel agents.
ReplyDeleteYTB and Travel: A bunch of confused slags!
"Carnival Cruise Lines is not moving to more direct marketing as the item wrongly implied."
ReplyDeleteNo wonder you guys arn't buying it. No surprise. For you to concede it would make you look stupid.
MLM's & TRAVEL: A GREAT MIX!
No no mixed-up! It has already been conceded, which is why a second blog today. To say differently makes YOU look stupid as well as mixed up. I imagine this story isn't finished but why would anyone with YTB care as Carnival already does all the work for them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the up date, John.
I'm not buying it either. Damage control I'm sure. Crotch probably gave a call in and said "WTF". I think more will come out of this....remember it wasn't to long ago that the new CEO, really had no comment about "YTB and Carnival". Remember he hadn't looked into the relationship much yet. I think this may just be the beginning.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous Doug aka Olescorekeeper said...
ReplyDelete"Carnival Cruise Lines is not moving to more direct marketing as the item wrongly implied."
No wonder you guys arn't buying it. No surprise. For you to concede it would make you look stupid.
MLM's & TRAVEL: A CONFUSED BUNCH!
How many times have you dealt with them directly? Have you ever had them steal your clients? Now as for looking stupid....must I mention names?
ytbscam -
ReplyDeleteStick to stock quotes.
And . . . get your hand out of your crotch.
YTB and TRAVEL: A Great Mix!
John,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the correction. But keep in mind yesterday right after the first article was posted, I stated that you were making some assumptions. Truth is Carnival didn't make a correction or a backpedal, they simply clarified for you TTAs that try so hard to read between the lines instead of the actual lines.
Yup, and the lead lemming, Delta, used to proclaim February as "Travel Agent Month"...
ReplyDeleteAnonymous--the one two posts up from this one...you are pissing me off. If you have a beef with the way it was reported call Travel Trade. I have the phone number of the Editor and Publisher.
ReplyDeleteSo now you expect me to take the word of someone who hides behind an anonymous name? I posted what TT reported. I linked to it. I even copied it verbatim. Your issue is with them.
When they made a correction, guess what? I made a correction as well. So go blow smoke up someone else's butt.
And I still stick by my OPINION that CCL is backpedaling on this and when they saw the backlash they needed to tone it down. There are some famous lies in this world...the check is in the mail..
I don't have a problem with the report or the "correction". My problem was with your wild speculations on what the report yesterday meant. I thought I made that clear in my post. I guess I will have to type slower for you.
ReplyDeleteAnd to add since you have a comprehension problem...YOUR speculation (not travel trade) was not ever remotely inferred in yesterdays article nor in the correction you posted today.
ReplyDeleteWell apparently I DO have a comprehension problem. When I say something like "I took out my crystal ball" and "I am wondering if..." and "could this be a shift.." sort of seems like that IS my speculation.
ReplyDeleteABC reports that the Pope wore a white robe. You say you are not sure, but it looked like it was white but an off-white to you.
Sort of like when YTB reports sales and I say that to me it does not look like the numbers are supported.
Get it?
John is right. As he stated, he is all about "speculation" and has difficulty going forward with a firm commitment to most topics he chooses to opine about. It's his safety net. That's why he can always say, "When I say something like "I took out my crystal ball" and "I am wondering if..." and "could this be a shift.." sort of seems like that IS my speculation."
ReplyDeleteGuys your beating a dead horse. Majority of the YTB people don't have any interaction with clients. They wouldn't even be aware if Carnival or any other vendor was moving foward DIRECTLY on the client. We've all seen it happen on the agencies side..but were talking about people with NO travel background and probably don't have a heavy supply of repeat customers to know the difference.
ReplyDeleteI agree that its backpeddling for damage control. Its going to happen eventually, as they already try to steal the clients now..
I suppose those who are not travel agents and who do not have travel agent experience wouldn't know how to read between the lines.
ReplyDelete