‘Creative’ agents enlist Race Across The World stars to promote A-Rosa

A Brilliant Travel homeworker who “took a leap” when she met the winners of Race Across The World at a conference is set to host the TV stars on a river cruise with the help of A-Rosa.

Michelle Stammers, who runs The Travel Genius in Sutton Coldfield, approached Cathie Rowe and Tricia Sail after the stars spoke at last September’s Barrhead Travel conference in Palma, Majorca.

“I had an idea, thinking outside the box, to promote my business to a broader audience and wondered if they would be interested in a collaboration,” said Stammers.

“I needed to take that leap to ask Cathie and Tricia. I chatted to the A-Rosa team there too, then with their head office.

“A-Rosa recognises the value of agents, and it’s nice to have a supplier who supports your ‘self-fam’.”

Stammers is working on the marketing project with friend and fellow Brilliant agent Carrie Gibson, who is based in Lichfield and will join the cruise. The agents are paying for the Stansted-Cologne flights, while A-Rosa is supplying cabins for the week-long Southern Rhine Experience cruise, departing May 25.

“We have to invest in our business to make it grow,” said Stammers.

Lucia Rowe, A-Rosa River Cruises managing director, commented: “We are delighted to be supporting Michelle with this trip. Watching an agent being creative and actively going the extra mile to promote river cruising is so encouraging and something we just love to see.”

Cathie and Tricia said: “This will be the first time for us on a river cruise and we are so excited to see what it will have in store. The ship looks amazing; we are sure it will exceed our expectations.”

The agents will film a live taster video with Cathie and Tricia before they depart, then share the stars’ experiences on social media.

Stammers highlighted the importance of networking at conferences and taking the initiative with self-fams. “I take a list of bookings for the coming year and ask suppliers for little extras for my clients such as upgrades,” she said. “It is not just a jolly; you’re there for a reason, it’s your business.

“Last year, I did Fred Olsen, Windstar and MSC self-fams with agent rates. I had breast cancer in the pandemic, so normal fams are too tiring. I’m on the mend now.”