CLIA announces 2022 conference dates

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) UK & Ireland has announced a raft of trade-friendly cruise events taking place in 2022.

Announced at CLIA’s Selling Cruise Day 2021 today (4 November) in Southampton, the trade association says that the events are designed to “help agents gain the insight that will further boost their enquiries and bookings”.

The biggest event is the CLIA Conference 2022, which will take place in Southampton in the spring.

The conference will give attendees the chance to get onboard ships, learn about a variety of cruise products, and meet industry-leading figures.

Next year’s RiverView Conference 2022 will take place in Budapest from 20 to 22 March. Delegates will be given the opportunity to spend two nights onboard river ships and have a full day of business sessions and networking. A total of nine ships across different brands will be made available, as well as a local Budapest excursion and two celebratory dinners.

Prior to the RiverView Conference is RiverView Week, which be held from 22 to 26 November, 2021. CLIA is working alongside its river cruise partners to bring agents a series of virtual events, including brand updates, expert panel discussions and a session on the Danube ahead of the Budapest event.

CLIA is also organising several luxury, expedition and river residentials next year for a limited number of agents.

A new-to yacht and sail cruising guide will also be published next year. The guide will provide top sales tips, an explanation of how onboard experiences differ from traditional ocean cruising, and recommendations on the type of guests to target with these holidays.

The guide will also include destination advice and mini-profiles of the different sail and yacht ships.

The 2022 event calendar was announced at CLIA’s Selling Cruise Day 2021 today, the organisation’s first in-person conference since 2019.

The event saw a total of 340 delegates hear from keynote speakers, including Ben Bouldin, vice president EMEA at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and CLIA chair UK & Ireland; Andy Harmer, managing director CLIA UK & Ireland; and Jan Swartz, president of the Holland America Group.

Andy Harmer said: “As the positive cruise momentum continues, we’re keeping pace by offering a range of event options for the trade that we’re confident will be engaging, informative and fun. From in-person conferences to residentials to virtual activities, we’ve listened carefully to feedback from across the industry, so we can provide the most beneficial and immersive experiences possible.

“We’re looking forward to offering the tools and know-how that will equip the trade for a rewarding and buoyant cruise market.”