CLIA to host Virtual Cruise Forum, ACA announces new conference dates

White cruise ship, ocean liner in water and sky with clouds. vector illustration in flat design
By Travel Weekly


Cruise industry leaders from across the globe will put a focus on the sector’s revival in Australasia and Asia this month at a virtual event.

In lieu of the postponed Cruise360 Australasia Conference in Sydney, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) will host a Virtual Cruise Forum on Friday 27 August.

The forum will provide an essential update for the region’s cruise community, offering important insights as the industry navigates a path to recovery.

Speakers will include Kelly Craighead (CLIA), Gianni Onorato (MSC Cruises), Ellen Bettridge (Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection), Jason Montague (Regent Seven Seas Cruises), Colleen McDaniel (Cruise Critic), Annie Chang (Singapore Tourism Board), Gavin Smith (CLIA and Royal Caribbean), Sture Myrmell (CLIA and Carnival Australia), Sarina Bratton (Ponant) and Michael Londregan (Virtuoso).

Topics will include an update on cruising’s road to recovery, how the cruise sector is working to rebuild confidence, how travel agents can achieve new relevance as cruise specialists, and how close collaborations have resulted in the successful resumption of operations overseas.

CLIA’s managing director of Australasia, Joel Katz, said the Virtual Cruise Forum was open to all regional members at no charge and would feature live panel discussions and interviews.

“At a critical time for our industry, this online forum will give travel agents valuable insight that will help ensure they benefit from cruising’s recovery,” he said.

“It has never been more important for our cruise community to unite around our common goals, and with the help of global industry leaders, this forum will help define our path forward.”

The Virtual Cruise Forum will run from 10am to 4pm (AEST) on Friday 27 August. More info on the event can be found here.

Meanwhile, the Australian Cruise Association (ACA) has decided to push back its annual conference due to the current lockdown situation in NSW, with the event now taking place from Wednesday 10 November to Friday 12 November 2021.

The conference will still be held at the Ville Resort-Casino in Townsville.

ACA chief executive Jill Abel said: “We are committed to holding our conference so that we can keep the conversations and energy going around planning for the cruise restart.

“We felt these new dates gave us more certainty around being able to hold the event this year, and also provide enough time for our speakers and attendees to change their travel plans.”

The line-up of speakers at the ACA’s conference includes Gavin Smith (Royal Caribbean), Sture Myrmell (Carnival Australia), Stuart Allison (Princess Cruises), Adele Labine-Romain (Deloitte Access Economics) and Dr Ian Norton (Respond Global).

Delegates who have registered and booked their accommodation will be automatically moved to the new dates. More info on the conference can be found here.

Latest News

  • Products

Embrace the journey: Traversing the world with the Shokz OpenRun

If you’ve been on the wrong side of a final call in the airport, or missed the stop on rail journey, it might be time to invest in a pair of Shokz OpenRun headphones. Originally marketed as headphones for fitness fanatics, runners or cyclists with a keen to steer clear of a prang with a car, […]

  • Tour Operators
  • Tourism

TTC: Deals are driving up demand for September trips

The latest market research from TTC Tour Brands shows interest in international leisure travel remains high for 2024, with 77 per cent of Australians over 18 still planning trips this year. Notably, 28 per cent of those travellers are eyeing September for their journeys. Europe continues to be the most popular destination, with 68 per […]

  • Aviation

Qantas ‘working urgently’ to fix app data leak

Qantas is looking into customer reports that passengers have this morning been able to access other passengers’ personal information on the airlines app. X user Lachlan posted that he was able log into different accounts every time he opened the app. My @Qantas app logs me in to a different person each time I open […]

  • Hotels

Revamped Wailoaloa Beach hotel opens as Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa

Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa is open and ready for bookings after the first phase of a multi-million-dollar transformation. Part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ premium collection, the transformation has seen the completion of 106 guestrooms showcasing contemporary interiors reflective of the premium Crowne Plaza brand and is a first for the […]

  • Luxury
  • News

Kamalaya Koh Samui clinches clutch of wellness awards

Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa has so far clinched five prestigious awards in 2024, including being inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ at the World Spa & Wellness Awards in London. Founders of the Koh Samui sanctuary and spa John and Karina Stewart expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the awards. “We are profoundly honoured […]