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All the finalists for Australasia’s 22nd Cruise Industry Awards revealed

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has revealed the finalists for the 22nd Cruise Industry Awards, set for 8 March in Sydney.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has revealed the finalists for the 22nd Cruise Industry Awards, set for 8 March in Sydney.

A record 75 finalists from Australia and New Zealand will vie for top honours, recognising the dedication and professionalism of the region’s cruise travel agents.

This year’s sold-out event, held at The Star Event Centre, celebrates a thriving cruise industry, with around 800 nominations received across 15 categories.

Awards include Agency of the Year, Cruise Consultant of the Year, Home-Based Cruise Agent/Broker of the Year, Rising Star and more. 

Joel Katz at the 2024 CLIAs.
Katz at the Cruise Industry Awards.

CLIA Managing Director Joel Katz praised the finalists as representatives of an ever-growing membership base.

“CLIA’s travel agent membership is now at record levels in Australasia, and this is demonstrated by the breadth of nominations and finalists in this year’s awards,” Katz said. 

“We can see new faces and fresh perspectives among the finalists, alongside some of the established achievers of the Australasian cruise community.”

“Cruising has become a clear priority among our region’s travel agents, and so this year’s awards will help celebrate that focus and support. 

“The cruise industry is incredibly grateful for the passion and professionalism shown by our trade partners, and I congratulate all our award finalists for their success.”

CLIA Awards
Celebrating the cruise industry!

Agency of the Year Categories

Cruise Agency of the Year Multi Location/Brand – Australasia

  • Phil Hoffmann Travel
  • Ignite Travel Group
  • Gallivanter Travel
  • Bicton Travel/Claremont Cruise & Travel Centre
  • Hunter Travel Group

Cruise Agency of the Year Single Location – Australia

  • Gregor & Lewis Bespoke Travel
  • Destination HQ
  • Main Beach Travel
  • Jamison Travel
  • Chirn Park Travel

Cruise Agency of the Year Single Location – New Zealand

  • Quay Travel
  • House of Travel Botany Junction
  • North Shore Business Travel
  • House of Travel Kapiti Coast
  • Pukekohe Travel

Online Cruise Agency of the Year Australasia

  • Cruise Guru
  • Our Vacation Centre
  • Clean Cruising
  • Ecruising
  • Trip-A-Deal

Individual Categories

Broker of the Year New Zealand

  • Michelle Downey, Bucket List Travel
  • Robert Schroder, Mondo Travel
  • Jane Hanson, YOU Travel Bethlehem
  • Debbie Christian, Ocean Escapes
  • Denise Fowler, The Travel Brokers

Mobile / Home-Based Agent of the Year Australia

  • Karryn Bartlett, TravelManagers Australia
  • Sarah Webster, Wayfinder Travel
  • Tracy King, MTA – Mobile Travel Agents
  • Jane Fowler, TravelManagers Australia
  • Lauren Jenkins, MTA – Mobile Travel Agents 

Cruise Consultant of the Year New Zealand

  • Natasha Warfield, Toussaint & Turner Travel Associates
  • Lesley Johns, Helloworld Westgate
  • Donna Hill, Quay Travel
  • Lisa Wharfe, Pukekohe Travel
  • Lydia Haydon, YOU Travel Bethlehem
  • Kay Paulsen, Cruisedeals.co.nz

Cruise Consultant of the Year Australia

  • Amanda Taylor, My Cruises
  • Michelle Yates, The Travel Studio
  • Kat Logan, Cruiseabout Brisbane
  • Malcolm Leyland, Cruise Express
  • Samantha Renvoye, Clean Cruising

Rising Star New Zealand

  • Melissa Duder, House of Travel Taupo
  • Cody Fifield, YOU Travel Levin
  • Rachael Wood, House of Travel Hornby
  • Flynn Cox, Flight Centre Botany Town
  • Morgan Wright, Pukekohe Travel

Rising Star Australia

  • Shane Black, SW Black Travel
  • Natasha Kozlowski, RAA Travel Colonnades
  • Rebecca Dunn, Flight Centre Griffith
  • Kyle Barney, Gallivanter Travel Townsville
  • Corey Martin, The Cruise & Travel Store

Cruise Champion Australasia

  • Kylie Crouch, First Travel Group
  • Michael Middleton, Ignite Travel Group
  • Belle Goldie, The Cruise & Travel Store
  • Rose Febo, TravelManagers Australia
Aerial shot of cruise ship at sea with wake. CLIA Australasia
Cruise industry
The cruise industry is booming.

Promotion and Media Categories 

Cruise Month Promotion of the Year Australasia

  • Globe Trotters Cruise & Touring “Cruise Showcase – Waves of Discovery”
  • Cruise Express “CLIA Cruise Month Discover and Learn”
  • MTA – Mobile Travel Agents “Sustainable and Responsible Cruising”
  • First Travel Group “Sail in Style with Celebrity”
  • Gallivanter Travel “Cruise Month Campaign” 

Network Cruise Promotion of the Year Australasia

  • Travel Associates “Luxury Cruise Season”
  • First Travel Group “YOU Travel & Cruise: Your Cruise Experts”
  • World Travellers “Smooth Sailing”
  • Flight Centre “Cruise Wave”
  • House of Travel “Seas The May”
  • RAA Travel “It Pays to Cruise with RAA”

Agency / Agent Cruise Promotion of the Year Australasia

  • Luxury Escapes “Sail Away Sale”
  • itravel Carlingford “Welcome to Sydney Scenic Eclipse II”
  • Imagine Holidays “Exclusive Event with John Cleese & Cunard”
  • Our Vacation Centre “Cruise Matchmaker”
  • My Cruises “Exclusive Northern Lights”

Media Award Australasia 

  • Louise Goldsbury, The Australian – “I thought I’d done the Med.This trip made me think again” 
  • Brian Johnston, The Australian Financial Review – “Ship shape”
  • Susan Kurosawa, The Australian – “Into the white unknown”
  • Jocelyn Pride, Signature Luxury Travel & Style – “Into the wild”

For more information on the cruise industry in Australasia, visit www.cruising.org.au.