Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has made additional announcements for 2024 at its annual CLIA Cruise Forum.
The event saw Andy Harmer, Managing Director UK & Ireland, provide updates to over 250 delegates from across the industry. This represented the largest ever number of partners to attend the event.
Updates include:
The theme of next year’s CLIA Conference will be #DiscoverMore, as it will have a particular focus on the wealth and variety of destinations that are accessible via cruise ship.
The conference will take place from May 23-25 in Southampton and is the largest annual travel agent event of its kind in Europe.
Additional places at the Conference will be made available to CLIA members, which originally sold out in a record-breaking 48 hours, with almost 600 registrations.
In addition, CLIA has announced that it has partnered with P&O Cruises, who will now include Britannia as part of the ship visit programme.
CLIA will update those agents, currently on a waitlist, who have secured a place in the new year.
Further places may be made available for CLIA’s RiverView event, which will be held in Amsterdam from March 11-13 next year and has similarly sold out. Details are to be confirmed.
CLIA will once again support the Compass Project, which aims to create greater social mobility, diversity and inclusivity in the travel and cruise industry.
The project is a partnership with Mundy Cruising and St John Bosco College in Battersea, and enables sixth-form students from socially diverse backgrounds to learn more about travel and associated career opportunities.
Agents are being encouraged to join two monthly trade-friendly webinar sessions next year, both of which were announced recently.
‘Focus on…’ sessions will take place live each month for 30 minutes and highlight opportunities within a different sector of the cruise industry.
‘CLIA in conversation’ will comprise monthly sessions, also live and for 30 minutes, with in-depth news, analysis and guest speaker insight.
The forum also featured speakers including:
* Ben Bouldin, CLIA Chair UK & Ireland
* Simon Jack, Business Editor for BBC News
* Ryan Uhl, Chief Brand Strategy Officer at Mail Metro Media
* Linden Coppell, Vice President Sustainability & ESG at MSC Cruises
* Danae Sheehan, Voyage Tracker Manager & Editor from Seabourn
A panel discussion with: Eithne Williamson, VP Princess Cruises UK & Europe; Lee Haslett, Global Chief Commercial Officer at Celestyal; Paul Melinis, Managing Director UK & Europe at APT Luxury River Cruises & Tours; and Giles Hawke, VP & MD UK, Ireland and EMEA at Celebrity Cruises.
CLIA has previously unveiled events and initiatives including new sections on its website, such as a New-to-Selling Cruise hub, Virtual Ship Tours and a ‘Countdown’ page for upcoming ship launches.
Andy Harmer said: “2023 has been a fantastic year for the cruise industry and I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has played their part.
“You could see from the positivity at the Forum that our members are thriving, and that is a great tribute to the innovation, determination and collaboration we see across the sector.
“We all want this momentum to continue into the new year and beyond, so have made a series of trade-friendly announcements to help start 2024 with a flourish.”
For more information, go to www.cruising.org
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