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Cruise meetings making waves
Eight percent of companies surveyed by research firm PhoCusWright last year listed cruise ships as their first choice for a meeting venue. But that was up from 6 percent in 2009.
“Interest is growing partly because an all-inclusive cruise ship event saves 20 to 30 percent on cost, according to cruise event services company Landry & Kling. Cruising builds in the social and excursion time needed to get a clear head, generate fresh thinking and share new experiences with colleagues,” points out CNN.
"There have been a lot of organizations that deleted or deferred meetings and want to do something to get their momentum back up," Jo Kling, co-founder and CEO of Landry & Kling, told the site.
Cruising has become increasingly accessible for companies in the last decade as "loads of new ships" have entered the market, Kling says, with about 27 gateways in the US, including Boston; New York; Norfolk, Virginia; Charleston, South Carolina; and Galveston, Texas.
Some businesses cite affordable amenities on cruise ships as major reasons for the growing interest.
Another advantage is that companies often deal with fewer on-site staff members to organize events, say convention bookers.
"Most participants (also) appreciate that they have the opportunity to see many destinations, some of them exclusive to the cruise line, but only need to unpack once," Sandra Daniel, CEO of FIRE Light Group, told CNN.
Pricing is also in US dollars, even when it’s a cruise in Europe or elsewhere.
By David Wilkening
David
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