Registrations have opened and the first keynote speakers confirmed for the 24th annual Australian Cruise Association Conference (ACA) and AGM being held from 10-12 November* in Townsville, Queensland.
The Conference, themed “Passage to Recovery” will be joined by other industry experts who will round out the two-day program to be held at the Ville Resort-Casino, Townsville.
“There has never been a more challenging time for the cruise industry, globally and within Australia. It is essential that we all come together to develop a clear roadmap of recovery for the cruise sector” said Jill Abel, CEO of the Australian Cruise Association.
Cancelled in 2020 due to COVID lockdown restrictions, the organisers say the Conference will provide a welcome opportunity for attendees to re-group in person, network with their peers and hear from a range of experts with both domestic and international knowledge.
A line-up of keynote speakers has been announced; including Gavin Smith (Royal Caribbean International), Sture Myrmell (Carnival Australia), Stuart Allison (Princess Cruises), Adele Labine-Romain (Deloitte Access Economics) and Dr Ian Norton (Respond Global).
They will be joined by other industry experts who will round out the two-day program to be held at the Ville Resort-Casino.
A range of tours will be on offer prior to the opening of the conference sessions allowing attendees to network with colleagues and explore the local area. These include The Great Historical Hotel Tour, a Billabong Sanctuary Tour, The Magnetic Island Guided Wildlife Explorer and a Townsville History Walking Tour.
The final day of the Conference will be spent on Magnetic Island at Peppers Blue Resort with a motivational breakfast followed by the AGM and Members’ Workshops.
“We have held our conference in regional destinations for the last three years,” noted Abel. “This year, more than ever, we are delighted to recognise the important role these destinations play in the cruise industry and support local businesses through this event.”
It is anticipated that around 100 people will attend the Conference which is being supported by Townsville Enterprise Limited, Port of Townsville and Tourism and Events Queensland.
Prior to COVID, Queensland’s cruise industry was worth $1.1B to the state’s economy with around 16 cruise ships visiting Townsville each season.
Recognising the importance of this opportunity to bring together key stakeholders in the industry to develop the roadmap for a cruise re-start, ACA has highly subsidised the registration fees for the Conference.
Click here to register and get $400 earlybird discount per attendee when booked before September 30.
*Dates changed from 8-10 September to 10-12 November – ACA confirms delegates who have registered and booked their accommodation will be automatically moved to the new dates.