ACA to hold 25th conference in Wollongong
The Australian Cruise Association (ACA) has revealed its milestone 25th annual conference and AGM will take place in Wollongong in 2023.
The announcement was made at the final session of the 2022 ACA Conference being held in Townsville.
Breaking the news, Jill Abel, CEO of ACA said the association was looking forward to bringing the conference back to NSW for this special occasion, with the event last taking place in NSW for its 20th anniversary in Sydney.
It is anticipated that around 120 people will attend the Conference in Wollongong to be held from 30 August – 1 September 2023, including leading national and international cruise executives and representatives from the supply side of the cruise sector – shore excursion operators, port authorities, provedores, shipping agents and tour businesses.
“Our community lined our coastline in their thousands in 2016 to welcome Radiance of the Seas, our first cruise ship to dock in Wollongong,” Destination Wollongong general manager Mark Sleigh said.
“From that first visit and those thereafter our city established a reputation as being one of the friendliest and most welcoming ports in the country.
“In keeping with that tradition, it will be Wollongong’s great honour to host the 25th Australian Cruise Association.”
In the 2018/19 cruise season, three cruise ships visited Wollongong attracting over 11,500 passengers and 3,200 crew.
Wollongong Lord Mayor, Cr Gordon Bradbery, said the event was a major coup for the city.
“Our city has fond memories of welcoming cruise ships and their passengers to our shores and showing them the many delights our city and region has to offer as a major tourist destination,” Bradbery said.
“We look forward to welcoming the industry leaders to Wollongong and being able to showcase to them the unique landscape and environment our city has to offer.
“The cruise industry had tremendously positive impact in putting us on the international tourism map and we look forward to once again welcoming ships to our shores.”
Image: Destination Wollongong general manager Mark Sleigh and Tracey Pascoe, business development manager Visit Wollongong (©Budd Photography).
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
agm Jill Abel The Australian Cruise Association wollongongLatest News
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