All the stars and snaps from CLIA Awards

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More than 500 industry members from across Australia and New Zealand frocked up on Saturday night to chink wine glasses and ring in the latest batch of winners at CLIA’s 16th Annual Cruise Industry Awards.

A total of 19 awards were handed out across nine categories with the top Australian gong once again going to Western Australia’s Bicton Travel.

In addition to winning an unprecedented sixth Gold Agency of the Year award, Bicton founder Carole Smethurst was inducted into the CLIA Hall of Fame, with a big nod to all of her efforts across the cruise sector.

“Thank you to everyone who’s voted for Bicton Travel to be Cruise Agent of the Year over all these years and thank you from the bottom of my heart for this award,” Smethurst said.

Phil Hoffmann Travel Glenelg took out the Silver Award, marking the agency’s seventh appearance in the top three since 2008, while Cruiseabout Kew won Bronze.

Across the ditch, Pukekohe Travel won the Gold Agency of the Year award for the second time in three years, while Manager Gail Littin also claimed the mantle of Cruise Consultant of the Year – the first time a New Zealand agency and one of its team has taken home both top awards.

House of Travel Orewa was awarded Silver and Cruiseabout Parnell was named New Zealand’s Bronze Agency of the Year.

CLIA Australasia Chairman Steve Odell presented a special posthumous award to the late James Patrick from Wiltrans International for his Contribution to the Australasian Cruise Industry. The award was accepted by James’ wife, Wiltrans managing director Diane Patrick.

“The Cruise Industry Awards bring together the industry’s brightest stars from across Australia and New Zealand in a fantastic celebration that recognises their outstanding achievements. Each year, the event continues to grow in stature in line with the impressive expansion of the industry, cementing the CLIAs as the cruise industry’s ‘night of nights’,” Odell said.

Held at The Star Event Centre, Saturday’s sell-out gala event featured an exclusive preview of award-winning musical The Bodyguard with Paulini Curuenavuli performing some of Whitney Houston’s best known songs, while popular Channel 7 personality Larry Emdur was MC.

And now for all the fab winners and smashing photos! Enjoy!

Cruise Agency of the Year – Australia

GOLD: Bicton Travel, Perth WA

SILVER: Phil Hoffmann Travel, Glenelg SA

BRONZE: Cruiseabout, Kew VIC

Cruise Agency of the Year – New Zealand

GOLD: Pukekohe Travel

SILVER: House of Travel Orewa

BRONZE: Cruiseabout Parnell

Online Agency of the Year – Australia

Ozcruising

Online Agency of the Year – New Zealand

Cruise Republic

Home Based/Mobile Agent of the Year – Australia

Derek Harwood – TravelManagers

Broker of the Year – New Zealand

Debbie Bradford – NZ Travel Brokers

Cruise Consultant of the Year – Australia

Helen McMullen, Cruise Holidays QLD

Cruise Consultant of the Year – New Zealand

Gail Littin, Pukekohe Travel

Rising Star Award – Australia

Hayley Osbourne, Cruise Republic VIC

Rising Star Award – New Zealand

Melanie Morrison, HOOT Cruises

Agency Promotion of the Year – Australasia

Meridian Travel & The Cruise Gallery VIC – “Rockin’ the Mekong with Elvis”

Network Promotion of the Year – Australasia

Phil Hoffmann Travel (Australia) – “River Cruise Launch Events with APT”

Plan a Cruise Month Agency Promotion Award – Australasia

Bon Voyage Cruises & Travel – New Zealand

Media Award

Brian Johnston, “Sail of the Centuries” (The Age/SMH Traveller, Fairfax)

Hall of Fame

Carole Smethurst – Bicton Travel

Contribution to the Cruise Industry (Posthumous Award)

James Patrick – Wiltrans International

Singer Paulini entertaining guests

Singer Paulini entertaining guests

Rising Star NZ Melanie Morrison with Francis Travel Marketing's Tony Smith

Rising Star NZ Melanie Morrison with Francis Travel Marketing’s Tony Smith

Rising Star Australia Hayley Osbourne from Cruise Republic with Sandra Chiles from InPlace Recruitment

Rising Star Australia Hayley Osbourne from Cruise Republic with Sandra Chiles from InPlace Recruitment

RCI's Adam Armstrong with NZ Gold Cruise Agency of the Year winner Eve Murphy from Pukekohe Travel

RCI’s Adam Armstrong with NZ Gold Cruise Agency of the Year winner Eve Murphy from Pukekohe Travel

RCI's Adam Armstrong with Aust Silver Agency of the Year winner Phil Hoffmann from Phil Hoffmann Travel

RCI’s Adam Armstrong with Aust Silver Agency of the Year winner Phil Hoffmann from Phil Hoffmann Travel

Plan A Cruise Month Promotion Winner Gerard Murphy from Bon Voyage Cruises Travel NZ with Travelmarvel's Deb Fox

Plan A Cruise Month Promotion Winner Gerard Murphy from Bon Voyage Cruises Travel NZ with Travelmarvel’s Deb Fox

NZ Silver agency of the year Dennis Payne and Yvonne Payne from House of Travel Orewa

NZ Silver agency of the year Dennis Payne and Yvonne Payne from House of Travel Orewa

NZ Cruise Award winners

NZ Cruise Award winners

NZ Bronze Agency of the Year winner Amanda Ellis from Cruiseabout Parnell wtih Star Cruises Brigita Devries

NZ Bronze Agency of the Year winner Amanda Ellis from Cruiseabout Parnell wtih Star Cruises Brigita Devries

Michelle Mickan from Phil Hoffmann Travel Network Promotion of the Year winner with Cruise Passenger publisher Peter Lynch

Michelle Mickan from Phil Hoffmann Travel Network Promotion of the Year winner with Cruise Passenger publisher Peter Lynch

Kirsty Eccles (l) and Jodie Quick Meridian Travel & The Cruise Gallery Victoria

Kirsty Eccles (l) and Jodie Quick Meridian Travel & The Cruise Gallery Victoria

Home Based Agent of the Year Australia Derek Harwood with Rocky Mountaineers' Dianna Shinella

Home Based Agent of the Year Australia Derek Harwood with Rocky Mountaineers’ Dianna Shinella

Helen McMullen, Cruise Holidays QLD, receives her award from NCL's Nicole Costantin

Helen McMullen, Cruise Holidays QLD, receives her award from NCL’s Nicole Costantin

Hall of Fame recipient Carole Smethurst with CLIA Australasia Chairman Steve Odell

Hall of Fame recipient Carole Smethurst with CLIA Australasia Chairman Steve Odell

CLIA's Steve Odell presents Wiltrans International MD Diane Patrick with a posthumous award for her late husband, James Patrick

CLIA’s Steve Odell presents Wiltrans International MD Diane Patrick with a posthumous award for her late husband, James Patrick

CLIA 2016 Cruise Industry Awards winners

CLIA 2016 Cruise Industry Awards winners

Aust Bronze Agency of the Year Kathy Pavlidis from Cruiseabout Kew with Star Cruises' Brigita Devries

Aust Bronze Agency of the Year Kathy Pavlidis from Cruiseabout Kew with Star Cruises’ Brigita Devries

Australia and NZ award winners

Australia and NZ award winners

Aussie Agency of the Year winners Bicton Travel's Phil Smethurst, Carole Smethurst and Michael Middleton with Uniworld's Fiona Dalton

Aussie Agency of the Year winners Bicton Travel’s Phil Smethurst, Carole Smethurst and Michael Middleton with Uniworld’s Fiona Dalton

(l to r) Felicia Collins, Kirsty Jensen, Ryan Poser and Hayley Osbourne from Cruise Republic NZ

(l to r) Felicia Collins, Kirsty Jensen, Ryan Poser and Hayley Osbourne from Cruise Republic NZ

P&O's Ryan Taibel (l) with Online Agency of the Year Australia winner Ozcruising's Craig ChisolmP&O’s Ryan Taibel (l) with Online Agency of the Year Australia winner Ozcruising’s Craig Chisolm

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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