MIAMI (August 7, 2006) – Corporate meetings and incentive travel are one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry.

To keep pace with the increasing demands of this market, Carnival Cruise Lines has dramatically expanded its popular “Preferred Awards” program, which enables businesses to purchase the line’s all-inclusive cruise certificates to reward top employees and encourage customer sales.  The company has also created a stand-alone Web site exclusively for meeting planners, www.carnivalmeetings.com.

The expanded “Preferred Awards” program now includes a greater variety of ships and itineraries than ever before, including new Europe and Greek Isles departures aboard the 110,000-ton Carnival Freedom, as well as access to more stateroom categories, including top-of-the-line suite accommodations – rare in cruise industry incentive programs.

The new carnivalmeetings.com Web site includes comprehensive information tailored exclusively for corporate meeting planners, with updated content and a host of enhanced photos and graphics.

In addition to an overview of the newly expanded “Preferred Awards” program, there’s a “Learn the Ropes” section that enables meeting planners to easily translate their shoreside events to a shipboard environment. “Learn the Ropes” also offers meeting planners the opportunity to tour or sail on a Carnival ship to get a first-hand look at how shipboard meetings, conferences and other events are hosted on board.

The site also includes details on the line’s new Carnival Corporate University, a series of shipboard fun, interactive professional enrichment seminars that focus on team-building, leadership, diversity and various other business-related topics.

“The meeting and incentive market is a vital part of Carnival’s marketing mix and one of the fastest growing segments of our business. These new and expanded programs provide business leaders with a convenient means to learn about the many benefits of shipboard meetings and reward top employees and clients with our memorable and relaxing cruises,” said Richard Weinstein, Carnival’s vice president of corporate and incentive sales.

The all-inclusive “Preferred Awards” certificates differ from other travel award programs in that the majority of the costs are included in the initial cruise fare; recipients are only responsible for incidental expenses such as drinks, spa treatments and shore excursions. 

Additionally, the certificates have very few blackout dates and are valid for 18 months from the time of purchase. Certificates can be used in applications such as sales incentives, customer rebates on purchase of high-ticket items, traffic builders for in-store, point-of-purchase sales and promotions, and employee motivation.

These amenities are available on Carnival’s fleet of 21 ships which operate voyages ranging from three to 16 days to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, New England, Bermuda, and Europe, including the Greek Isles.

For additional information on Carnival’s amenities for corporate meeting and incentive sales opportunities, contact the line’s corporate and incentive sales department toll free at 1-877-278-0388.

Information and reservations on Carnival’s cruises are available by contacting any travel agent, calling 1-800-CARNIVAL, or visiting carnival.com.

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Carnival Cruise Lines is a proud member of the exclusive World’s Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Costa Cruises, Windstar Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality and value, our member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. Together, we offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world’s most desirable destinations.