Dave Cole, senior sales manager - EMEA, Universal Parks & Resorts, announced the launch on online agent training at the Global Travel Group Annual Conference.
Agents can log on to www.universalpartnercommunity.com to undertake video-led training, access concessions for agents with no blackout periods, download videos to show customers and marketing material. The training portal will also feature a chat function and forum so agents from around the world can share ideas.
To open up Orlando holidays to more people, Mr Cole announced that the theme park area will receive its first-ever budget hotel with rooms starting at ?55 per night. This hotel will be predominantly aimed at the family market
As well as the online training and budget hotel, Mr Cole told delegates that Universal aims to open new attractions every year, particularly so that repeat customers can have a different experience every time they visit. He said that new attractions at Orlando included a ride inspired by the Fast & Furious movie franchise and live night shows at Hogwarts Castle as part of the popular Harry Potter section of the Universal theme park. Further construction is underway for more Harry Potter-themed attractions and they are scheduled to open in 2019, with more details to be announced later.
At the Volcano Bay water park, Mr Cole said the Tapu Tapu device, which is given to visitors on arrival, means that instead of waiting in line for attractions, visitors join a "virtual queue" and they receive a notification when it is time to use the attraction for "a relaxing experience".
City Walk, the bar, restaurant and retail precinct located near the theme parks and hotels, now has a Voodoo Doughnuts outlet, the first for the US East Coast.
