Clia asks agents for ideas about second expedition showcase

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Delegates on a ship visit during the Clia Expedition Showcase in Svalbard. By Steve Dunlop

Clia UK and Ireland is looking to organise a second expedition cruise showcase following the success of its inaugural event in Svalbard (July 16-20).

The association hosted 70 trade delegates in the town of Longyearbyen, including 46 agents, offering a programme of conference and workshop sessions, plus six ship visits. Excursions included a mountain hike to find fossils and a wildlife-spotting boat trip in the remote Norwegian archipelago.

Andy Harmer, managing director at Clia UK and Ireland, said the event had been so popular with agents that it sold out within two days and the number of delegates was increased from 50 to 70.

Furthermore, the number of ships being showcased in Svalbard increased from an initial four to six, so agents could visit Sylvia Earle (AE Expeditions), SH Diana (Swan Hellenic), Ocean Albatros (Albatros Expeditions), Le Lyrial (Ponant), Ocean Explorer (Quark Expeditions) and World Voyager (Atlas Ocean Voyages).

“There will be another showcase – we will look at the learnings from this event, given the popularity of expedition cruising,” Harmer told Travel Weekly.

He urged agents during the final ‘masterclass’ session to suggest locations for the next expedition showcase when they fill in the post-event survey.

Clia also holds an annual expedition cruise summit in the UK, and features the sector in its main conference agenda.

Andy Tait, EMEA senior business development manager at AE Expeditions, told delegates that expedition is the fastest growing cruise sector, with 2024 sales up 22% on 2023.

Andy Harmer at the Clia Expedition Showcase in Svalbard. By Steve Dunlop

“It will be a long-term trend, not a flash in the pan,” he said.

Antarctica is the number-one destination, followed by Svalbard, Greenland and Alaska – and sales to warm weather destinations are also growing.

Tait highlighted the demographic diversity of clients, who are “not just empty-nesters”, adding: “Experiential travel is the future of luxury – millennials and Gen Z want more focused experiences rather than products.”

He said clients will book expedition cruises “on rotation” with safaris and holidays to destinations such as Australia and Canada – and they “pair well” with cruise and touring/adventure sectors.

Furthermore, the high cost means high commission earnings for agents – and “the best fams”.

He likened expedition cruises to a ‘safari on ice’ or a ‘safari on water’ because of the wildlife-viewing opportunities, urging agents to transition clients from safaris to the sector.

Anthony Daniels, UK and Ireland general manager for Ponant, commented: “It’s not an age, it is an attitude.”

He said the sector appeals to clients who want something different: “Maybe they have done safari or city breaks. Lots who come are not cruisers, they want the experience.”

A survey of agents attending the event found that 39% had limited or average knowledge of the sector.

Kimberley in Australia was the region they knew least about, followed by Greenland, Africa, South Pacific, Asia, Iceland, the Galapagos and the Arctic. Antarctica was the area they knew about the most.

Almost three quarters (73%) had been on an expedition ship but 70% had never been on an expedition cruise before.

When asked why they wanted to learn more about the sector, they highlighted the business and sales opportunities, their own interest, and the chance to learn something new.