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Southampton to host 500 agents over three days
Agents will have to opportunity to visit up to six ships during the second annual UK Cruise Convention to be staged in Southampton.
More than 500 agents are expected to participate in the event which will run on May 19-21, 2008 – double this year’s numbers.
Event management company CO Plus, which produces ABTA’s Travel Convention, has been employed to do a similar job with next year’s Cruise Convention.
The event is being run by the Association of Cruise Experts featuring training sessions and breakout workshops on May 19 followed by ship visits, speaker sessions, panels, and exhibition and dinner.
Details of workshops, keynote speakers and ship visits will be announced over the next few months, according to the organisers.
Details of the ship visits have not been given but Southampton will be marking the debuts of P&O Cruises’ Ventura and Royal Caribbean International’s Independence of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, next spring.
ACE business development director Andy Harmer said: “Agents and agencies recognise what a lucrative and growing business selling cruises can be and are keen to ensure they have the tools and knowledge necessary to be competitive in their market.”
Elaine Dellar, managing director of CO Plus, added: “Cruise is clearly continuing to grow in popularity, so it’s essential that travel agents support and encourage this trend.
“This event is unique as it combines learning more about cruise holidays and networking with the opportunity for agents to inspect several ships whilst docked in the UK. We very much look forward to playing a small part in the event’s continuing success.”
by Phil Davies
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