Almost 500 people celebrate at the 20th Cruise Industry Awards.Tonight the Australian and New Zealand cruise sector has gathered in Sydney for a highly anticipated celebration of recovery and resilience.
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia MD Joel Katz said “travel agents across our region have shown incredible determination over recent years, and these awards help celebrate their resilience and their passion for cruising as we sail into a new era”.
Big winners on the night included Ignite Travel Group, named Australasia’s Large Cruise Agency of the Year; YOU Travel Bethlehem which took home the NZ Small Cruise Agency of the Year; and Hunter Travel Group and MTA Travel which shared the Cruise Month Promotion of the Year award.
Robyn Sinfield from Home Travel Company was named Cruise Champion – Australasia; itravel’s Megan Catterall took home the Mobile/Home Based Agent of the Year category; and Sheron Konig from Travel Associates Rockhampton was the Australian Cruise Consultant of the Year.
In a moving tribute, former CLIA Chairman and ex regional head of Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Steve Odell, was recognised for his role in cruising’s success by being inducted into the CLIA Hall of Fame.
And in a most unexpected honour, Travel Daily‘s Bruce Piper was named Media Cruise Champion for supporting the sector over the last three years.
The full list of winners is here:
- Cruise Agency of the Year (Small) – Australia – Bicton Travel
- Cruise Agency of the Year (Small) – New Zealand – YOU Travel Bethlehem
- Cruise Agency of the Year (Large) – Australasia – Ignite Travel Group
- Online Agency of the Year – Australasia – Clean Cruising
- Cruise Consultant of the Year – Australia – Sheron Konig, Travel Associates Rockhampton
- Cruise Consultant of the Year – New Zealand – Janine Mallon, Zest4Travel
- Mobile/Home-Based Agent of the Year – Australia – Megan Catterall, itravel
- Broker of the Year – New Zealand – Sharon O’Brien, Live Breathe Travel
- Rising Star – Australia – Clarees Purkiss, Cruise Travel Centre Green Hills
- Rising Star – New Zealand – Marise Barrett, helloworld Strandon
- Agency Cruise Promotion of the Year – Australia – My Cruises
- Agency Cruise Promotion of the Year – New Zealand – Bon Voyage Cruises & Travel
- Network Cruise Promotion of the Year – Australasia – House of Travel, New Zealand
- Cruise Month Promotion of the Year – Australasia – Hunter Travel Group / MTA – Mobile Travel Agents
- Cruise Champion – Australasia – Robyn Sinfield, Home Travel Company
- Cruise Line Champion – Australasia – Shaun Kavanagh, Princess Cruises
- Media Award – Australasia – Michael Ferrante, The West Australian
- Hall of Fame – Steve Odell
More details in Monday’s issue of Travel Daily.