The Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA) annual conference for the UK and Ireland recently concluded after three days in Southampton, showcasing a wide range of cruise opportunities for 850 delegates. The #DiscoverMore event highlighted the diverse selling points of cruise destinations and featured a variety of activities, including ship tours, conference sessions, and an industry trade fair. A unique addition this year was the opportunity for agents to visit two different ships over two days from a selection of seven vessels.
The conference attracted notable industry leaders, including Kelly Craighead, president and CEO of CLIA; Rob Scott, vice president of sales, marketing, and brand at P&O Cruises; Paul Ludlow, president of Carnival UK and P&O Cruises; Nirmal Saverimuttu, CEO of Virgin Voyages; Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises; Dondra Ritzenthaler, CEO of Azamara Cruises; and Jeff Corwin, US wildlife biologist, TV personality, and Princess Cruises onboard host. Prior to the main conference, there was an optional ‘New to Selling Cruise Day’ training session available for newcomers.
CLIA also announced future events during the conference: the Destination Showcase, scheduled to return from September 15-17 in Gibraltar, and the new CLIA Weekender, set to take place in Barcelona from October 24-26. The ships available for agent tours at the conference included Cunard’s Queen Anne, Fred Olsen’s Borealis, MSC Virtuosa, P&O Cruises’ Iona and Britannia, Princess Cruises’ Sky Princess, and Silversea’s Silver Dawn.
