CLIA’s 14th annual conference will once again bring together the entire cruise community during three exciting days in Southampton.
Next year CLIA, the world’s largest cruise industry trade association, is holding it’s 14th ‘official conference of the cruise industry’ in Southampton. During the tree-day event delegates get a chance to visit multiple cruise ships, attend a trade fair and a full day of business sessions (featuring speakers from across the cruise industry as well as keynote inspirational leaders from outside the sector), followed by the Conference’s gala dinner.
Last year’s keynote speakers included Azamara’s Larry Pimentel, Celebrity Cruises’ Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, CLIA’s new President Kelly Craighead, and Virgin Voyages’ Tom McAlpin; plus entertainment from Cunard and Norwegian Cruise Line, the Princess Cruises ‘Voice of the Ocean’ live final, and special guest Sir Richard Branson.
Delegates attending next year’s annual CLIA Conference in Southampton will have the chance to visit P&O Cruises’ Britannia and MSC Cruises’ MSC Meraviglia.
Andy Harmer, CLIA UK & Ireland director, said: “Our 14th annual CLIA Conference will once again bring together the entire cruise community, and promises the usual mix of engaging and informative conference content, our now famous networking trade fair, our legendary gala dinner and evening entertainment, multiple ship visits on some of the newest ships that attract UK and Irish holidaymakers; and of course the usual surprises that allows the whole event to continue to exceed the expectations of our travel agent partners.
This year CLIA is also organizing a River Cruise Conference. The two-day event will take place in Amsterdam from 10 – 11 November, and will include four ship visits and an overnight stay.
The four ships docked in Amsterdam during the conference will be A-ROSA’s A-Rosa Flora, which features an outdoor heated pool and a large onboard spa and sauna; Amadeus River Cruises’ MS Amadeus Silver III, which boasts a panorama restaurant and glass-shielded river terrace; CroisiEurope’s MS Douce France, one of the line’s ‘5 anchor’ premium ships, and Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Bach, an all-suite ship featuring one of the largest standard accommodations in river cruising.
As well as a visit on each ship, delegates will also dine and stay overnight on Sunday 10 November onboard either A-Rosa Flora or MS Douce France.
In October the Cruise Line’s Association is organizing a Cruise360 event in Valletta, Malta. From October 28 – 30, delegates will not only have the chance to immerse themselves in this beautiful and historic cruise port with this special Cruise360 event, they will also be able to visit up to three luxury cruise ships and hear from experts both inside and outside the industry – including visits to Holland America Line’s Koningsdam or Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Voyager, Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge and Azamara Club Cruises’ Azamara Pursuit.
The 2020 CLIA Conference will take place on 26, 27 and 28 April in Southampton and is open to CLIA travel agent members. Registration opens on 11 September via www.cruiseexperts.org.