CLIA Cruise Award Finalists revealed – did you make the cut?

Four friends laughing and applauding a speech.

 

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia has revealed the list of finalists for the 2016 Cruise Industry Awards.

The who’s who in the cruise industry will gather on 11 February at Sydney’s Star Event Centre to find out who will take home an award across the 19 categories.

More than 500 agents and industry members from across Australia and New Zealand are expected to attend the gala which celebrates its 16th year and MC’d by Larry Emdur, with CLIA Australasia Managing Director Joel Katz adding it was expected to be “the best yet”.

“The Cruise Industry Awards is a great way for our member cruise lines to recognise and reward the outstanding achievements of agents who are at the forefront of the industry’s impressive growth. After a record year of cruising down under, we’re looking forward to a fitting celebration,” Katz said.

Nominations in the categories of Agent Promotion of the Year and Network Promotion of the Year have been submitted by CLIA member agencies.

Entrants for the other categories, which include Cruise Agency of the Year (bronze, silver and gold), Online Agency of the Year, Homebased Agent of the Year, Cruise Consultant of the Year, the Rising Star award and the latest entrant to the CLIA Hall of Fame, are nominated by member cruise lines.

A handful of seats are still available for the event at www.cruising.org.au or www.cruising.org.nz

The nominees are:

 

 

 
Cruise Agency of the Year – Australia

Bicton Travel, Perth WA
Cruiseabout, Kew VIC
Phil Hoffmann Travel, Glenelg SA
The Cruise Centre, Savenio QLD
Wings Away Travel & Cruise, VIC

Cruise Agency of the Year – New Zealand

House of Travel Orewa

Cruiseabout Parnell
Helloworld Howick
House of Travel Motueka
Pukekohe Travel

 

Online Agency of the Year – Australia
Clean Cruising
Cruise Republic
Ozcruising
Cruise Guru 
Online Agency of the Year – New Zealand

Cruise Republic
iCruise
Lets Cruise

 

Home Based/Mobile Agent of the Year – Australia
Sarah Fenton – MTA Mobile Travel Agent
Derek Harwood – TravelManagers
Melissa Pointon – MTA Mobile Travel Agent
Carl Retschlag – TravelManagers
Broker of the Year – New Zealand

Debbie Bradford – NZ Travel Brokers
Mary Houghton – NZ Travel Brokers
Janine Mallon – Tasty Tours
Nicola Sorenson – NZ Travel Brokers

 

Cruise Consultant of the Year – Australia

Deborah Long, Weston Travel & Cruise ACT
Martine Hero, Clean Cruising QLD
Helen McMullen, Cruise Holidays QLD
Phil Smethurst , Bicton Travel WA

 

Cruise Consultant of the Year – New Zealand

Bruce Blacklock, helloworld Lambton Quay
Samantha Fowler, Cruise Connections
Gerald Patterson, helloworld Howick
Gail Littin, Pukekohe Travel

 

Rising Star Award – Australia

Prue Herron, South Coast Cruise & Travel NSW
Tracey Jeffries, Albury Travel & Cruise NSW
Hayley Osbourne, Cruise Republic VIC

 

Rising Star Award – New Zealand

Felicia Collins, Cruise Republic
Melanie Morrison, HOOT Cruises
Kirsty Stewart, House of Travel Hornby

 

Agency Promotion of the Year – Australasia
Meridian Travel & The Cruise Gallery VIC – “Rockin’ the Mekong with Elvis”
Dream Maker Travel QLD – “Avalon Waterways cruise with Ian Healy”
Network Promotion of the Year – Australasia

iTravel (Australia) – “Come cruise with us”
Phil Hoffmann Travel (Australia) – “River Cruise Launch Events with APT”
helloworld (New Zealand) – “Set Sail”

 

Plan a Cruise Month Agency Promotion Award – Australasia

Bon Voyage Cruises & Travel – New Zealand
CruiseAway by Dreamlines – Australia
helloworld Rotorua – New Zealand

 

Media Award

Brad Crouch, “One for the money” (Escape, News Limited)
Caroline Gladstone, “A World of Harmony” (Sun Herald Traveller, Fairfax)
Brian Johnston, “Sail of the Centuries” (The Age/SMH Traveller, Fairfax)

 

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