CLIA UK & Ireland has announced the dates for its 2024 conference, scheduled to take place from May 23-25 in Southampton UK.
This annual event represents the largest travel agent gathering of its kind in Europe and marks the 16th edition. It encompasses ship visits, conference sessions, an industry trade fair, and an evening celebration. In a new development, agents will have the opportunity to select two ships to visit over consecutive days from a pool of six vessels.
Additionally, an optional 'New to Selling Cruise Day' has been introduced on May 22, following its successful debut in 2023. This in-person session offers a blend of industry and product training tailored for agents new to the cruise sector.
The first day of the event will feature conference sessions and a comprehensive industry trade fair held in venues within Southampton.
On the second day, attendees can choose to visit Cunard's Queen Anne, Silversea's Silver Dawn, or Princess Cruises' Sky Princess, followed by a celebratory evening event.
The final day provides the option to visit MSC Virtuosa, P&O UK's Iona, or Fred Olsen's Borealis.
Notably, four of the available ships are making their inaugural appearances at a CLIA Conference, including the newly-launched Queen Anne.
Andy Harmer, Managing Director of CLIA UK & Ireland, expressed enthusiasm for the 2024 conference, citing its expansion with more ships, extended land program options, and the training day for agents new to cruise sales. He emphasized the value of ship visits in providing agents with firsthand insights and highlighted the networking opportunities offered throughout the event.
The conference will open for registration in the near future, with exclusive discounted registration links available for CLIA EMBARC ID card holders. Further details about the event's theme and keynote speakers will be disclosed in due course.