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CLIA announces theme of 2019 conference
CLIA UK & Ireland has announced the theme for its three-day 2019 conference next May will be ‘Next Generation’, exploring what cruise lines are doing now to shape holidays for the future through innovation and investment.
The conference will take place in Southampton from May 15 to 17.
CLIA UK & Ireland director Andy Harmer said: "The theme ‘Next Generation’ allows us to look ahead at how cruise holidays will change in the future in terms of the experiences on offer and the guests they will appeal to. There is a huge amount of investment within the cruise industry, not only on new ships but also in technological innovations. Through this theme we will be looking at how this investment will affect the ‘next generation’ of cruise holiday, from river and ocean to luxury and expedition.
"From dining and entertainment, to new technology used onboard and new shoreside experiences, ‘Next Generation’ looks at how guests’ cruise holiday experiences will change as we know it, both ashore and onboard."
Currently, the industry has committed to investing $60 billion in new ships. Harmer said the Next Generation theme also referred to how new experiences could attract younger holidaymakers, and how travel agents can make the most of this opportunity.
"The theme will explore who exactly the ‘Next Generation’ of cruisers are – people who may have never considered a cruise before but are attracted to the new, never-seen-before experiences cruise lines will offer," he said. "The theme also recognises our CLIA travel agent partners and the dedication they put into helping the cruise industry grow. We will continue to invest in providing our travel agent members with the very best in accredited learning, unique resources and inspirational events."
Larry Pimentel, Azamara Club Cruises’ president and chief executive officer since 2009, will be a keynote speaker at the conference. Prior to taking the helm at Azamara, he served as president, chief executive officer and co-owner of SeaDream Yacht Club.
Delegates will have the chance to visit two of the three ships that will be in Southampton for the event: Celebrity Edge, which launched in Miami this month, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, and MSC’s Preziosa.
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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