Three of the cruise industry’s most high profile figures will headline at this year’s Clia conference.
Carnival Corporation chief executive, Arnold Donald, Royal Caribbean Cruises president and chief operating officer, Adam Goldstein, and president and chief executive of Azamara Club Cruises, Larry Pimentel, will be keynote speakers at the event on May 18 to 20 in Southampton.
Royal Caribbean International’s Harmony of the Seas will also make its UK debut to agents at this year’s event and host the closing ceremony on May 20.
Delegates will also have the opportunity to visit P&O Cruises’ Ventura during the conference, which is now in its tenth year.
Travel Weekly is official media partner for the event which has more than 600 delegates registered, including a record 470 travel agents.
Director of Clia UK and Ireland, Andy Harmer, said: “We are delighted that Arnold, Adam and Larry will be joining us at this year’s very special conference. They will each bring their own unique perspective on the cruise industry at a time when we are witnessing significant change.
“The 2016 Clia Conference will be a celebration of cruise under the theme ‘Join the Cruise Revolution’. Our first conference took place in 2007 when our membership totalled 750 agencies and 21 cruise lines – we now have an amazing 3,400 travel agency members and 51 cruise lines working with Clia in the UK & Ireland.
“We have witnessed tremendous change over the past decade and this revolution continues in all areas – new ships, ports and destinations, and particularly in the way in which we sell the cruise product to today’s customers.”
Travel agents also can also take part in a special pre-conference sales and communications masterclass on board MSC Splendida on May 17. The visit will also include a tour of the ship and lunch.
The event has now sold out but agents wishing to attend can join a waiting list on cruiseexperts.org