Full Steam Ahead! ACA unveils speaker program for annual conference

Full Steam Ahead! ACA unveils speaker program for annual conference
Edited by Travel Weekly


    The speaker program has been confirmed for the 25th Australian Cruise Association Conference (ACA) and AGM being held from 30 August – 1 September, 2023 in Wollongong, NSW.

    The conference is titled “Full Steam Ahead” with a range of keynote presentations and panel discussions to reflect the theme.

    “With such a positive outlook for cruise both at home and overseas, our conference will provide the industry with the perfect opportunity to come together and ensure we are well positioned to take advantage of future opportunities,” said Jill Abel, CEO of the Australian Cruise Association.

    The line-up of keynote speakers includes Stefano Borzone – Global Port Operations and Development, Princess Cruises; Dr. Natasha Montesalvo – Principal Consultant Destinations, Strategy and Insight at Earthcheck who will discuss building sustainable, resilient visitor economies and Mick Fogg – Director of Expeditions and Destination Development, Asia Pacific for Ponant Expeditions.

    Sandra Lau from Viva Energy will bring her considerable expertise in the hydrogen fuel arena to the program when she speaks on the future of alternate fuels and their accessibility in Australia.

    They will be joined by other industry experts including Phillipa Harrison (Tourism Australia) and Adele Labine-Romain (Deloitte Access Economics) who will round out the program to be held this year at the Novotel Wollongong Northbeach.

    A pre-cruise program will be held on 30 August with numerous opportunities on offer for attendees to take a deep dive into the local region including a tour of the bustling port of Port Kembla, a trip to Illawarra Regional Airport to experience aviation history, a walking tour of the Blue Mile or an Indigenous Stand-Up Paddle Board Tour led by local Dharawal woman, Jodi Edwards.

    “We are looking forward to holding our Conference back in NSW this year to reflect the importance of the state as a lynchpin for cruise itineraries throughout Australia” noted Abel.

    According to the Port Authority of NSW, around one million passengers passed through Sydney cruise terminals in the 2022-23 financial year, with visitation rates in NSW approaching pre-pandemic figures at a faster rate than expected.

    “Located just over an hour from Sydney, Wollongong is a key regional cruise hub for the state and delivers some wonderful opportunities for cruise passengers” added Abel.

    The final day of the Conference will kick off with a motivational breakfast followed by the AGM and Member Workshops.

    It is anticipated that around 120 people will attend the Conference which is being supported by Visit Wollongong, Wollongong City Council and the Port Authority of NSW.

    Members and stakeholders are advised to register soon to take advantage of the earlybird rates which will run until 31 July. Register for the conference here.

    Latest News

    • Tourism

    Tourism Western Australia MD Carolyn Turnbull departs

    Tourism Western Australia MD Carolyn Turnbull is departing the agency with effect from Friday May 10. Over the past three years, Turnbull played an instrumental role in driving growth, with one of the agency’s most significant achievements being the increase in visitor spend. Under her leadership, Tourism WA achieved a record breaking $17.7 billion in […]

    • Travel Agents

    DriveAway launches Brit-Euro Blitz campaign

    DriveAway has launched its Brit-Euro Blitz: Explore the UK, Europe & Ireland campaign, designed to inspire travellers to uncover the beauty and diversity of those destinations during May and June. The campaign arrives amidst a surge in popularity for destinations across the UK, Europe and Ireland, with year-to-date increases averaging around 30%. Notably, cities such […]

    • Road & Rail

    Fly and Stay Free with the Great Southern

    Great Southern’s Fly and Stay Free special offer will have travellers taking in the views along the east coast between Adelaide and Brisbane next summer. This bright orange locomotive chases the summer sun, sharing the incredible coastline with those who want to experience it by train. The journey reflects the best of Australia, from charming […]

    • Tourism

    Sober travel and TikTok guide Australian Gen Z trips

    Gen Z travellers prefer to limit alcohol when overseas and have an increased reliance on TikTok when planning a trip, according to a report by StudentUniverse, the world’s largest online travel retailer for young people. The State of Student & Youth Travel Report for 2024 delved into the latest travel sentiments amongst those aged 18-25 […]

    • 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 […]