Shipping minister Mike Penning will open the 2011 Ace UK Cruise Convention in Southampton.
Senior executives from Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises will also take centre stage at the convention on May 3-5.
Princess Cruises’ customer service, sales and marketing executive vice president Jan Swartz will provide a view on the success of independent agents in the US and NCL global sales and passenger services executive vice president Andy Stuart will discuss maximising profits through social media.
Delegates will also hear the latest on consumer buying trends with research undertaken and presented by Mail Newspapers.
Day two of the convention will see a panel discussion on ‘selling the variety of cruise’ led by Mail on Sunday travel editor Frank Barrett.
Confirmed panellists are MSC Cruises’ Giulio Libutti, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines’ Dominic Paul, Regent Seven Seas’ Graham Sadler, Thomson and Island Cruises’ David Selby, and eWaterways’ Daniela Wagner.
They will discuss the attractions of family cruising, cruise and stay packages, ultra luxury and river cruising, and European style cruise holidays.
Business sessions on the third day will focus on ways in which agents can increase their cruise business including effective sales and marketing techniques, the importance of knowing your destination and a first-hand view of the on board experience from the hotel directors of Cunard Line’s Queen Elizabeth and P&O Cruises’ Aurora.
ACE director Flo Powell said: “I’m delighted we have such a strong line up of exceptional speakers, all highly knowledgeable and able to provide travel agents with the latest news, trends and advice designed to help them turn high consumer interest into increased cruise sales.
“The introduction of Columbus Day also allows us to tailor the content to owners, managers and ACE ambassadors so that we can maximise their time at the event, while offering all agents ship visits, business sessions and the Cruise Convention Trade Fair.”
Registration is open for with further details available at www.ukcruiseconvention.org