Clia uk & ireland september with clia

September at

www.cruiseexperts.org

It is in all of our interests to work together this year to help Get Britain & Ireland Cruising.

And if we needed to focus on one month to achieve that – then it is September.

September is full of promise. We can all work together to talk to non-cruisers during National Cruise Week supported by our biggest PR campaign ever; we can get special ideas, inspiration and information at Columbus Day and at the Luxury Cruise Expo; and we can look for recognition for us or for colleagues in the Cruise Excellence Awards.

If we all play our part we can really make a difference. We can secure a fast growing cruise market and ensure that customers understand the wealth of cruise experiences available. And that is in all of our interests.

Join in and make a difference.

Andy Harmer Director

Find out more: www.cruiseexperts.org Twitter: @ukcruising Facebook.com/cliaukireland

Last Chance to Book for Luxury Cruise Expo Extended to August 14th!

We have a unique event coming to Dover on September 2nd and 3rd that will set the tone for the whole month... the 2013 Luxury Cruise Expo.

This will feature no less than THREE ultra-luxury ships in port (and you get to visit ALL of them!); our first ever virtual ship tour of Regent Seven Seas’ very own Voyager whilst she is berthed in Southampton; plus meet the important suppliers from this sector in our Trade Fair; and enjoy our afternoon conference sessions featuring, amongst others, Travel Weekly Aspire and the co-founder of Mr&Mrs Smith James Lohan.

And on the evening of September 2nd you will be wined and dined in the spectacular Canterbury Cathedral Lodge for a fitting evening of luxury!

LAST E CHANC K O TO BO

All coach transfers, parking at Port of Dover and ship visits are included in the registration fee of ÂŁ20. Event commences 09:30 on September 2nd, and closes by 14:00 on September 3rd.

REGISTRATION MUST CLOSE ON AUGUST 14th.

If you are looking to increase your sales of luxury and ultra-luxury cruising, then this is the event for you. Join us.

CLIA UK & Ireland acknowledges the support of Port of Dover, Visit Kent and CLIA member cruise lines.

Your Questions Answered

What is National Cruise Week?

Exactly as it sounds – a week of events, PR stories, media interviews and campaign focus on raising awareness of the holiday opportunities offered by cruising. As CLIA we put a lot of focus on cruising supplements by national newspapers and magazines, interviews and general PR support to raise awareness of the week, and in exchange we ask as many travel agents as possible to hold an event during the week to specifically target non-cruisers.

We can then advertise and promote CLIA travel agent member events where they can get more information about cruise.

So what is CLIA offering travel agents?

That is the good bit! As a CLIA member travel agent you can request your FREE National Cruise Week Pack, full of material, ideas and collateral to help you hold and promote an event during the Week.

You can also now register your event on cruiseexperts.org so that we can help publicise all events to customers and media up and down the country looking for more information.

Simply log-in to the members area of cruiseexperts.org and head for the National Cruise Week dedicated section.

So what sort of things can I do?

We are suggesting that all CLIA travel agent members who can should hold an Afternoon Tea event between Sep 21 & 29 and use that opportunity to talk to your non-cruising customers about the joys of cruise.

Afternoon Tea is indicative of just the sort of culinary delights that many cruise lines offer on-board (and ashore), and so this is a wonderful opportunity to talk to non-cruises about the many outstanding dining options available to them whilst cruising. As non-cruisers they are probably not even aware of the many options available to them! Now is the time to explain.

We also chose Afternoon Tea as it is a relatively easy event for many travel agents to hold. You can make it as large or small an event as you wish, there is no huge cost involved, and it creates a wonderful atmosphere when you can sit with customers and talk to them about cruising.

You can invite a cruise line representative along if you wish; or a customer of yours who will talk about their cruise experience; or it can just be you – a pot of tea and some cookies, or cupcakes talking cruise holidays to some customers.

So all I need to do is register for a pack?

Well. Almost. You also need to make some decisions about your event: • When are you going to hold it? Day and times • Where are you going to hold it? A local cafe, in your shop? Is there a local business who might work with you to host the event?

• What are you going to do at the event? Show a video and do a formal presentation, or just use it to talk informally to customers? Invite guest speakers? Show your recent cruise holiday photos? Serve tea and cupcakes, or a glass of wine and nibbles?

• Why are you going to hold the event? Is the idea simply to convert some existing customers to a cruise, or are you also going to use the event to try and attract brand new customers? Or are you going to showcase a sector of cruising such as ultra-luxury or river cruise?

• Then just head to cruiseexperts.org members area and register for your National Cruise Week Pack, and the details of your event... and we will help spread the word!

Is there a competition?

There is! You can win one of a number of different prizes initially by simply registering your event on cruiseexperts.org. You only have to enter the event once, and once you have done so you will go into each subsequent weekly draw to WIN! Watch out for our weekly emails to see what prize is being offered.... and good luck!

If there was ever a must-attend event each year for getting the best from cruising – then this is it!

We have lined up two great venues, a selection of the finest inspirational and informative speakers, over 60 sponsoring companies, an amazing evening Awards Dinner, and all in just one day and just for YOU!

September 19th 2013 | Columbus Day | Liverpool

ASSOCIATED BRITISH PORTS SOUTHAMPTON

ACC Liverpool 08:00 to 11:00

11:00 to 11:30 11:30 to 13:15 13:15 to 14:00 14:00 to 15:30 15:30 to 15:45 15:45 to 17:00

One-to-one meetings (we will open this pre-booking service soon) Networking coffee break Conference session 1 Networking Lunch Conference session 2 Networking coffee break Conference session 3

St Georges Hall 19:00 to 19:45 19:45 to late

Welcome reception CLIA UK & Ireland 2013 Awards Dinner

BOOK BY AUGUST 19 FOR DISCOUNTED TICKET PRICE of £60 + VAT Call 01920 444 827 or register via www.cruiseexperts.org

Keynote speakers include Michael Bayley, President & CEO, Celebrity Cruises Jo Malone, Entrepreneur Christine Duffy, President & CEO, CLIA Neil Palomba, COO, MSC Cruises Jo Rzymowska, Chair, CLIA UK & Ireland Mike Southon, Best-selling author, business ambassador and mentor for the City of Liverpool Guy Zitter, Group Managing Director of Mail Newspapers, Mail Newspapers

Cruise Excellence Awards 2013 There is nothing like industry recognition to really showcase achievements and to make a big difference to businesses. CLIA UK & Ireland is dedicated to rewarding those that have gone above and beyond the call of duty to really help Get Britain & Ireland Cruising.

So enter NOW either you and your business, or a colleague, into one of the following seven categories: • Homeworker of the Year • Online Travel Agency of the Year • High Street Travel Agency of the Year • Innovation in Cruise • Cruise Travel Agent of the Year • Young Cruise Travel Agent of the Year • Outstanding Contribution to the UK Cruise Industry

CLIA UK & IRELAND

2013 CRUISE

EXCELLENCE Awards

Simply enter by emailing your nominations to aholubowicz@cruising.org by 16 August 2013. The shortlisted finalists will be invited to attend Columbus Day as our guest, and the winners will be announced at the Awards Dinner at St Georges Hall in Liverpool on September 19th

Call CLIA 0207 436 2449

| www.cruiseexperts.org

2013

2013

September can be our biggest month yet in cruise to really inspire and inform our travel agent members, recognise great achievement in our Awards, and drive some additional cruise sales via National Cruise Week.

And remember that there are other events and opportunities coming up this year too...

River Cruise Convention 2013 in Cologne on November 17 & 18: two days of all things river cruise to highlight the opportunities that this fast paced and growing sector can offer.

Sunday November 17 One to one meetings / River Cruise Trade Fair / Conference Sessions plus a hosted dinner and overnight stay on a river cruise ship Monday November 18 The chance to visit and hear from six river cruise ships in Cologne just for you! Register now via cruiseexperts.org Evening Cruise Showcase events

Edinburgh on 10 October 2013

Nottingham on 24 October 2013

Cambridge on 30 October 2013

Belfast on 27 November 2013 EW N Dublin on 28 November 2013 Register now via cruiseexperts.org Online learning & accreditation is available on our website – the only travel agent learning programme accredited by City & Guilds.

www.cruiseexperts.org