Watch: Top tips on how to enter the AmaWaterways Partnership Pitch

AmaWaterways’ director of sales for the UK and Europe, Andrea Stafford, has encouraged agents and operators to enter the AmaWaterways Partnership Pitch to bring "fresh sales into [their] business". 

The luxury river cruise line has once again partnered with Aspire to give readers the chance to pitch for cooperative marketing funds. 

The AmaWaterways Partnership Pitch is open to both travel agents and tour operators. Trade partners could already be working with AmaWaterways or be new to the brand, river cruising or cruising in general.

Up to £10,000 of cooperative marketing funds is up for grabs, with multiple agents or operators able to win a slice of the pot. 

Stafford told Aspire: "We already work with many travel agents but we want to find new agents, tour operators or people who have their own businesses that are based from home who perhaps we haven’t engaged with before and give them the opportunity to work with Amawaterways. 

"We’re offering up to £10,000 in cooperative marketing funds to help you bring fresh sales into your business and to pitch an idea to us - no matter how big or how small it is. The £10,000 isn’t just for one person; we will split it across various partners so don’t assume that the smaller ideas won’t be considered.

"It’s very quick to enter - you just have to enter by September 30 and your activity needs to be in place by the end of March next year. So if you’ve got a database of luxury clients, touring clients, city breaks clients, people who you think would love to go on a luxury river cruise - dont be shy, come and talk to us about it."

The AmaWaterways Partnership Pitch returns for a second year following a successful launch in 2024.

Last year, Paramount Cruises, Thompson Travel International, Abbotts Travel, Dawson and Sanderson and Connoisseur Travel were among the agencies selected to receive cooperative marketing funds.

To enter, agents and operators must complete a written submission outlining their great idea, including details on why they are interested in promoting AmaWaterways, how they feel their customer database matches the line’s guest, and how they would spend the cooperative marketing funds.

Shortlisted entrants will then be invited to deliver a two-minute pitch to the AmaWaterways team.

Click here to complete the form. Entries close on September 30.