Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has announced the full line-up of speakers and panellists for this year’s sold-out Cruise360 Australasia conference.
It brings together a wealth of international expertise and local insight to help prime travel agents for success, the Association said.
Under this year’s theme Embrace the Future, CLIA has created a program to inform, inspire, and equip agents so they can expand and grow their cruise business into the future. A total of 28 industry experts will take the stage in Sydney on August 30, including six international leaders flying in especially to share a global perspective.
Panellists on the State of the Industry Leaders Panel: Forces Shaping the Global and Australasian Cruise Market include Peter Little, president, Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises Australia, Gavin Smith, vice president & managing director, Royal Caribbean International, Ben Angell, vice president & managing director Asia Pacific, Norwegian Cruise Line and Deb Corbett, CEO Asia Pacific, PONANT.
Other panels feature Celestyal’s Lee Haslett, Jason Worth Oceania Cruises, Conrad Combrink of Silversea and Mike Mihajlov of Holland America and Seabourn. Steve Spivak, global vice president of sales and service, TAUCK will speak on Unlocking the Luxury Market: Strategies for Upselling and Maximising Opportunities
A Conversation.
Senior staff from Aurora Expeditions, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas and MSC Cruises will also be present.
Highlights include:
- State of the Industry Leaders Panel: Forces Shaping the Global and Australasian Cruise Market – insights from the regional heads of key international cruise lines.
- Seizing the Potential: New-to-Cruise Trends and Insights – new data and insights into the untapped markets that will drive cruising’s future growth.
- Leveraging the Experiential Travel Trend – a conversation with Silversea Senior Vice President, Expeditions & Itinerary Management, Conrad Combrink.
- Beyond the Cruise: Harnessing the Potential of Immersive Pre- and Post-Cruise Experiences – how to increase the value of cruise bookings through creative pre/post opportunities.
- Unlocking the Luxury Market: Strategies for Upselling and Maximising Opportunities – a conversation with TAUCK Global Vice President of Sales and Service, Steve Spivak.
- #EmbraceTheFuture: Staying Competitive in the Rapidly Evolving Cruise Market – how emerging travel trends are changing the cruise industry, presenting new opportunities.
- AI: Your Invisible Powerhouse – how to use AI like a personal assistant, allowing agents to work smarter and free up time for creativity.
CLIA Managing Director in Australasia Joel Katz said this year’s Cruise360 would reflect the cruise industry’s optimism.
“The anticipation for this year’s Cruise360 has been fantastic and we are ready to welcome a record attendance of more than 800 travel agents and industry professionals,” Mr Katz said. “Our program is designed to convert that enthusiasm into practical knowledge that will help unlock the opportunities of a thriving cruise sector.”
The full Cruise360 Australasia 2024 program is now online, including details of all panellists and speakers.
Feature image: CLIA managing director Australasia Joel Katz. Supplied
