CLIA Selling Cruise Day: 2022 will be “defining year” for cruise
Ben Bouldin. Image courtesy of Royal Caribbean.
Positive outlook for 2022 at CLIA’s Selling Cruise Day in Southampton
Next year will be a “defining year” for the cruise industry, according to Ben Bouldin, CLIA chair UK & Ireland and vice president EMEA at Royal Caribbean.
Bouldin made the comments at CLIA’s Selling Cruise Day in Southampton on November 4, the organisation’s first in-person conference since 2019. With 350 delegates and 45 cruise lines in attendance, the theme of the conference was #TogetherAgain.
Bouldin said: “We’re about to embark on one of the most defining years that the cruise industry has ever had. It will see 16 new ocean cruise ships and 10 new river cruise ships: that’s a huge amount of capacity. The opportunity for 2022 is vast.”
Bouldin’s comments were backed by Jo Rzymowska, managing director of Celebrity Cruises, UK & Ireland.
She said: “Our audiences have lost out on many holidays. There is big demand for 2022 and beyond. We are seeing high prices and great demand.”
Jan Swartz, group president of Holland America Group, said that the pandemic would change cruising and consumer behaviour “forever” and that the industry had a “bright future ahead”.
She said: “Consumers are going to embrace travel even more passionately than they did in the past.”
Swartz also said that the Holland America Group had “used the pause to significantly elevate the guest experience”.
As well as prize giveaways from major cruise lines, other conference highlights included a raft of celebrity speakers, including former Love Island contestant Dr Alex George, who spoke about the importance of looking after your mental health, and Celebrity Masterchef’s first blind contestant Amar Latif, who got a standing ovation for his inspirational speech.
There was also a pre-recorded video interview with Wish You Were Here presenter Judith Chalmers.
CLIA announces 2022 conference dates
The Hungarian Parliament and the Chains Bridge in Budapest at sunset.
The trade-friendly events and fam trips will help agents “boost their enquiries and bookings”
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 in Southampton earlier this month, 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 on board 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 March 20 to 22. Delegates will be given the opportunity to spend two nights on board river ships and have a full day of business sessions and networking. A total of nine ships across different brands will be made available to explore, as well as a local Budapest excursion and two celebratory dinners.
Prior to the RiverView Conference is RiverView Week, which will be held from November 22 to 26, 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.”