Clia has postponed its flagship conference event this year in Southampton amid the coronavirus outbreak.
MSC Cruises executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago, Holland America Line president Orlando Ashford and Steve Born, chief marketing officer at Group Voyagers, had all been due to speak at the three-day conference starting on April 26.
The trade association’s decision comes a day after Hays Travel cancelled its homeworker conference in Tenerife and a week after the ITB trade show in Berlin was pulled.
Several other conferences are currently scheduled to take place as planned this spring.
Clia UK and Ireland director Andy Harmer said: “With hundreds of delegates in attendance, the Clia Conference is the UK’s largest travel agent event and is extremely important for the cruise sector.
“We take our responsibility for the health and safety of our delegates, as well as the crew and passengers onboard the ships we visit, very seriously. With that in mind, it is with a heavy heart that we must postpone this year’s conference until further notice.
“The team at Clia deeply regret these circumstances however, as always, our number one priority is health and safety.
“We would like to thank our agent members, cruise lines and sponsors who supported this year’s conference. We look forward to seeing you all at future Clia events.”
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B.B King’s Blues Club, a band which features on eight ships across Holland America Line ships, was also scheduled to make an appearance at the conference’s gala dinner on April 27.