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ACE revamps cruise convention
The ACE Cruise Convention is to be split into two separate events next year, with a conference specifically for front line sales staff taking place in May and a second event for senior travel executives held in September.
A Selling Cruise Conference for customer-facing travel staff will be held on 1-2 May 2011 in Southampton. The first day will provide targeted content for delegates to use once they return to their shops, offices and call centres. There will also be a trade fair and, with the day’s events held at one hotel, opportunities for networking.
On the second day, delegates can visit up to four cruise ships docked in Southampton – Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth, P&O Cruises’ Adonia, Princess Cruises’ Grand Princess and Royal Caribbean International’s Independence of the Seas.
Columbus Day for senior travel executives will be held in Birmingham on 20 September and will be designed for directors, senior managers and owner/managers. The day will feature business seminars, debates with key note speakers, networking opportunities together with a Gala Awards Dinner to recognise the contributions made by individuals within the cruise sector.
ACE director Andy Harmer said: “The ACE Cruise Convention has been a great success since its inception in 2007. We feel the time is now right to revamp the event with the key aim of making it more relevant to individual delegates, particularly at a time when everyone is pressed on time and resource.
"The Selling Cruise Conference will offer an inspiring and informative opportunity for front line agents to further their cruise sales. They will hear in detail advice and information which will increase their cruise business.
“We are also building on the success of this year’s first ever Columbus Day. We will hear from authoritative speakers from inside and outside of the cruise industry and we will also celebrate the efforts of individuals in driving interest and sales in cruise with the revamped ACE Awards.”
Registration for the 2012 ACE Cruise Convention will open on Thursday 15 December. For further information visit www.cruiseexperts.org
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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