Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has released the full program for this year’s Cruise360 Australasia conference, to be held at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney on 17–18 September.
This year marks the event’s first two-day format, held under the theme “Future Ready. Client Ready. Cruise Ready.”
CLIA executive director in Australasia Joel Katz said the conference would focus on the skills, insights and confidence needed for advisors to remain trusted and commercially successful.
“This year represents our first two-day conference in Sydney, and we have worked to create a program that is more relevant and forward-thinking than ever,” Katz said. “We have taken a fresh approach to delivering insights that are of genuine benefit to travel advisors, giving them ideas and actions they can put to use right away.”
CLIA members can still register here.
Sessions on the program include a discussion with Globus Family of Brands Asia Pacific managing director Christopher Leigh on selling in what organisers are calling the “desire economy”, drawing on his more than 15 years in luxury retail.
Quark Expeditions president Sam Seward will lead a session on selling polar expedition cruises, while a separate panel featuring competing cruise lines will address the growth of river cruising, including how it can be sold to ocean cruisers and tour clients.
A session titled “Young Guns: The Next Generation Selling Cruise” will feature emerging cruise industry talent discussing their career paths and client-building strategies.
The program also includes an international panel offering a global industry perspective, a series of discussions on the practical use of AI for advisors, and a keynote from content marketing consultant Hannah Statham focused on converting first-time cruisers.
Alongside the conference sessions, Cruise360 Australasia will run an industry cocktail event and an exhibition featuring CLIA member cruise lines, destinations and industry suppliers.
