Written By: Mary Pat Sullivan, Content Director, Travel Weekly Events
The full roster of general sessions, ship inspections, 30 workshop options and industry certification programs are now available online at www.cruiseworldshow.com.
Attendees at this year’s CruiseWorld event will be able to earn CLIA credits, Special Needs Group certification, Hawaii Specialist certification and gain hands-on workshop training from nearly a dozen suppliers. Travel advisor peers will lead a series of four tracks of sessions on Friday including: Mastering a Market Segment, Marketing Your Business, The Business of Selling Travel and The Awesome Side of What You Do.
Nearly 20 cruise, tour and hospitality executives are set to share their insights during this year’s Travel Weekly CruiseWorld event, November 9 to 11 in Fort Lauderdale. This event enables attendees to experience, first hand, one of the top three most important cruise ports in the country where last year nearly 4 million passengers sailed from 39 ships.
“The news about the rising value and importance of travel advisors has been so encouraging this year. We want to expand on that theme during CruiseWorld and intend to celebrate the ‘awesomeness’ of the profession and help our attendees gain momentum, enthusiasm, education and critically important industry connections,” said Alicia Evanko-Lewis, Senior Vice President of Events for Northstar Travel Group. “We want to showcase the opportunities that abound in the travel marketplace. We are thrilled to welcome more than 150 travel suppliers to our Exhibitor Showcase, nearly a dozen of the industry’s leading cruise ships for inspection, and a wealth of opportunities to network with and learn from some of the most successful travel advisors in the business.”
Travel Weekly Editor-in-Chief Arnie Weissmann will lead one-on-one discussions each day with a CEO. November 9 will kick off with Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corp. November 10 will highlight Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. on the day they christen their newest and biggest ship, the Harmony of the Seas. And November 11 will begin with Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
Panel discussions will bring nearly 20 additional industry leaders to the stage including presidents of host agencies, cruise lines, tour operators, river cruise companies and senior sales and marketing executives from throughout the industry.
Host agency leadership from Avoya Travel, An American Express Travel Representative, Nexion, LLC, Cruise Planners, An American Express Travel Representative, Dream Vacations/Cruise One and Cruises Inc., and GIFTED Travel Network will share their take on what makes selling travel an amazing career choice. On November 10, Meet the Masterminds will look at what works in sales, marketing, entrepreneurship and leadership. Confirmed panelists include Vicki Freed, Royal Caribbean International’s senior vice president for sales and trade support and service; Ken Muskat, executive vice president for sales, PR and guest services at MSC Cruises USA; Adolfo Perez, vice president for trade and sales marketing at Carnival Cruise Line; Nathan Hickman, vice president for key accounts at Norwegian Cruise Line; and Dondra Ritzenthaler, Celebrity Cruises’ senior vice president of sales and John Chernesky, Princess Cruises and Cunard Line’s vice president of North American sales.
For the closing day’s general session, Weissmann will lead the Presidents’ Panel with the top executives including: John Delaney, President, Windstar Cruises; Christine Duffy, President, Carnival Cruise Line; Edie Rodriguez, CEO and President, Crystal Cruises; Rick Sasso, President and CEO, MSC Cruises (USA); and Andy Stuart, President and CEO, Norwegian Cruise Line.
This year, CruiseWorld is once again offering its Select Travel Advisor Recognition (STAR) program. The core component of the STAR Program is a series of business connections scheduled between exhibiting suppliers and prequalified travel advisors committed to business growth. Selected advisors will receive complimentary registration and hotel accommodation for two nights. Those spots are filling quickly, with more than half already committed.
Visit www.cruiseworldshow.com. Summer registration includes a $50 discount through August 31 and early access to ship inspection opportunities.