International Cruise Council Australasia honours top travel agents.
Cruise industry pioneer Phil Hoffmann was tonight awarded the ultimate cruising accolade, being named as this year’s recipient of the Neil Frazer Award for outstanding contribution to the cruise industry by an individual.
The award was part of the International Cruise Council Australasia annual Cruise Industry Awards, attended by almost 500 people from across the industry in a glittering ceremony at the Sydney Hilton Hotel.
It was also a big night for Cruiseabout, with consultants from the Flight Centre-owned cruise specialist taking out the Consultant of the Year awards for both Australia and New Zealand.
ICCA chairman Gavin Smith spoke about the evolving role of the Council in the wake of the Costa Concordia accident earlier this year, saying that the industry in Australia and New Zealand had been relatively unaffected in terms of bookings in recent weeks when contrasted to trends in the USA and also particularly in the UK and Europe.
And top travel agencies and consultants on both sides of the Tasman were recognised for their important role in continuing to grow the burgeoning cruise industry.
The full list of winners is:
Agency Promotion of the Year – Australia: Just Cruises, “Cruise Sale Week”
Agency Promotion of the Year – New Zealand: Manly United Travel – “APT River Cruise Group Promotion”
Rising Star – Australia: Jamii-Lee Alpen, Ozcruising ACT
Rising Star – New Zealand: Helen Mahoney, Lets Cruise Auckland
Frank Johnson Award for Cruise Consultant of the Year – Australia: Roland Kautzky, Cruiseabout Port Melbourne
Frank Johnson Award for Cruise Consultant of the Year – New Zealand: Sue Grigg, Cruiseabout Ponsonby
Cruise Agency of the Year – Australia, Bronze: Phil Hoffmann Travel
Cruise Agency of the Year – Australia, Silver: Cruiseabout Turramurra
Cruise Agency of the Year – Australia, Gold: Bicton Travel WA
Cruise Agency of the Year – New Zealand, Bronze: Cruise Republic Auckland
Cruise Agency of the Year – New Zealand, Silver: Lets Cruise Auckland
Cruise Agency of the Year – New Zealand, Gold: iCruise Auckland
Neiil Frazer Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual: Phil Hoffmann
More information and lots of photos in next week’s issues of Travel Daily and Cruise Weekly.