By Alicia Evanko-Lewis, Senior Vice President of Events, Northstar Travel Group
Two brand new ships will be in port and celebrating their U.S. debut during this year’s CruiseWorld and both are part of the 11-ship roster of inspection opportunities available only to CruiseWorld attendees. “Our goal at CruiseWorld is to connect the travel industry sellers with the suppliers and training they need to grow their business. Ship inspection opportunities are critical to a travel advisor’s ability to sell such diverse products and being able to bring Royal Caribbean’s Harmony and Holland America’s Koningsdam to our attendees is an absolute privilege,” said Alicia Evanko-Lewis, Senior Vice President of Events for Northstar Travel Group.
In another first for CruiseWorld and for the travel agency community, Fathom will offer a ship inspection for the Adonia for a limited number of CruiseWorld attendees. This ship, the first to sail to the shores of Cuba earlier this year, homeports in Miami and will be available to tour on Sunday, November 13.
Opportunities are limited, and the ship inspections, scheduled for Nov. 8, 12 and 13 in Fort Lauderdale and Miami, both before and after CruiseWorld, are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
This year’s full ship inspection roster includes Carnival Cruise Line’s Splendor; Celebrity Cruises’ Reflection; Fathom’s Adonia; Holland America’s brand new ms Koningsdam; MSC’s Divina; Norwegian Cruise Line’s Escape and Getaway; Princess Cruises’ Coral Princess and Regal Princess; and Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas and celebrating its inaugural during CruiseWorld, the industry’s largest vessel, the Harmony of the Seas.
CruiseWorld, taking place from November 9-11 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, features c-suite keynote speakers, supplier workshops, peer-to-peer training, a one-day exhibitor showcase, sponsored meal functions, ship inspections and significant networking opportunities.
CruiseWorld will include three days of jam-packed general sessions and more than 30 breakout sessions covering every segment of the leisure travel space.
The one-day exhibitor showcase will be held on Thursday, November 10 with companies representing every segment of the travel industry including, airlines, attractions, business tools, car rental, cruise, destinations, hotels and resorts, professional services, tour operators and packaged vacations and more. Suppliers interested in joining the exhibitor showcase should contact Emmy Morales at [email protected].
Applications are now being accepted for CruiseWorld’s STAR (Select Travel Advisor Recognition) Program. As part of Travel Weekly’s ongoing commitment to supporting the professional development and growth of the travel advisor community, this program will help fund attendance and two nights’ hotel accommodation for nearly 300 of the estimated 1,000 travel advisor attendees at CruiseWorld. The program is structured to provide enhanced event programming while offsetting some of the financial expenses incurred by travel advisors to attend professional development events.
The core component of the STAR Program is a series of collaborative meetings scheduled between exhibiting supplier partners and pre-qualified, travel advisors committed to business growth. Advisors who qualify for the STAR Program, and who are selected to participate, receive complimentary registration and complimentary hotel accommodation for two nights. Specific participation requirements are detailed on the CruiseWorld website. Traditional registration opportunities are available for those who do not wish to apply for the STAR Program.
Whether attending as a STAR Program participant or a traditional attendee, CruiseWorld’s robust programming provides value for all types of travel advisors, from the home-based professional to the cruise-centered advisors, the seasoned veterans and those new to the industry. Register for only $75 using code HBTA at checkout through September 15.
For more information on Travel Weekly’s CruiseWorld, the ship inspection roster and the STAR Program, visit www.cruiseworldshow.com.