Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia has revealed the finalists for the 21st Cruise Industry Awards. With 79 finalists from Australia and New Zealand, competition for honours at this year’s CLIAs is fierce.
Over 800 entries were received for the 18 categories, which include Agency of the Year, Cruise Consultant of the Year, Home-Based Cruise Agent/Broker of the Year, Rising Star, Cruise Champion and Promotion of the Year.
Eleven categories are also open to self-nomination or peer-nomination.
All of the winners will be announced at a sold-out celebration at The Star Event Centre in Sydney on Saturday, 9 March.
Among those nominated for the Large Cruise Agency of the Year (Australasia) award, one of the gala’s biggest honours, are Phil Hoffmann Travel, Ignite Travel Group, RAA Travel, Bicton Travel/Claremont Cruise & Travel Centre and Hunter Travel Group.
For individual honours, Cruise Consultant of the Year nominees include Kara Lane (Ecruising), Alison Lord (Travel Associates Turramurra), Martine Hero (Clean Cruising), Elizabeth Madsen (Flight Centre Kenmore) and Byron Horne (Bicton Travel).
CLIA Australasia Managing Director Joel Katz said that this year’s award nominations showcase the increasing number of successful travel agents in the region.
“This year’s nominees include not only the most successful and high-profile travel agents in our community, but also a new and determined generation of travel agents who are part of our expanded CLIA membership,” Katz said.
“All these travel agents have been a big part of the spectacular comeback cruising has achieved in Australia and New Zealand, so our 21st Cruise Industry Awards will recognise their enormous contribution to our industry’s success.”
The event will once again be hosted by Tim Campbell.
Read our ultimate wrap of the 2023 Australasian Cruise Industry Awards.
CLIA Cruise Industry Awards finalists
Large Cruise Agency of the Year – Multi Location/Brand (Australasia)
- Phil Hoffmann Travel
- Ignite Travel Group
- RAA Travel
- Bicton Travel/Claremont Cruise & Travel Centre
- Hunter Travel Group
Small Cruise Agency of the Year – Single Location (Australia)
- Cruise Express
- Main Beach Travel
- Travelrite International
- itravel Carlingford
- Gregor & Lewis Bespoke Travel
Small Cruise Agency of the Year – Single Location (New Zealand)
- YOU Travel Bethlehem
- House of Travel Botany Junction
- House of Travel Papamoa
- Cruise Connections
- Pukekohe Travel
Online Cruise Agency of the Year – Australasia
- Cruise Guru
- Clean Cruising
- Our Vacation Centre
- cruisedeals.co.nz
- Ecruising
- Trip A Deal
Broker of the Year – New Zealand
- Zaheda Davies, NZ Travel Brokers
- Debbie Christian, Travel Advocates
- Lucy Marshall, The Travel Brokers
- Michelle Downey, Bucket List Travel
- Andrew Lennox, Travel Managers
Home-Based / Mobile Agent of the Year (Australia)
- Karryn Bartlett, TravelManagers Australia
- Mark Spurway, MTA – Mobile Travel Agents
- Jane Fowler, TravelManagers Australia
- Sarah Fenton – MTA – Mobile Travel Agents
- Rose Febo, TravelManagers Australia
Cruise Consultant of the Year – New Zealand
- Joanne Coolen, House of Travel Kapiti Coast
- Jill Harris, Bon Voyage Cruises & Travel
- Lydia Haydon, YOU Travel Bethlehem
- Kay Paulsen, cruisedeals.co.nz
- Gail Littin, Pukekohe Travel
- Sam Fowler, Cruise Connections
Cruise Consultant of the Year – Australia
- Kara Lane, Ecruising
- Alison Lord, Travel Associates Turramurra
- Martine Hero, Clean Cruising
- Elizabeth Madsen, Flight Centre Kenmore
- Byron Horne, Bicton Travel
Rising Star – New Zealand
- Taylor le Breton, House of Travel Invercargill
- Bibiana Saudua, cruisedeals.co.nz
- Rachael Wood, House of Travel Hornby
- Jaimee Phelps, House of Travel Kapiti Coast
Rising Star – Australia
- Kai Floto, Southlands Travel & Cruise
- Paige Cameron, My Cruises
- Mitchell Tam, Phil Hoffmann Travel
- Ben Chidgzey, Bicton Travel
- Vanessa Sokolji, Flight Centre Epping Plaza
Cruise Champion – Australasia
- Rhona Rodgers, MTA – Mobile Travel Agents
- Kylie Crouch, First Travel Group
- Megan Catterall, LUXE by itravel
- Mike Clark, Phil Hoffmann Travel
Cruise Line Champion – Australasia
- Elsa McLean, Regent Seven Seas Cruises
- Rachaelle Tyrell, Princess Cruises
- Christine Oliver
Cruise Month Promotion of the Year – Australasia
- House of Travel “Omnichannel 2023 Cruise Month Promotion”
- Cruise Express “Embracing CLIA Cruise Month”
- MTA – Mobile Travel Agents “What’s Your Cruise Personality? Quiz”
- Rose Febo “Seas The Day”
- My Cruises “My Cruises Cruise Month and 24/25 Earlybird Campaign”
Network Cruise Promotion of the Year – Australasia
- World Travellers “It’s a Suite Life”
- Flight Centre “Oceans of Offers”
- RAA “It Pays to Cruise with RAA”
- Travel Associates “Luxury Cruise Luncheons”
- Hunter Travel Group “Newcastle Holiday & Cruise Expo”
Agency/Agent Cruise Promotion of the Year – Australia
- My Cruises “Unmissable Sale”
- Luxury Escapes “Virgin Voyages Partnership”
- Cruise Express “Royal Rail & Sail Adventure”
- Rose Febo “At My Cruising Table – Epicurean Experiences Across the Seas”
Agency/Agent Cruise Promotion of the Year – New Zealand
- Pukekohe Travel “Travel & Cruise Expo”
- cruisedeals.co.nz “Kiwi Explorer – Best of the South Island”
- Bon Voyage Cruises & Travel “Japan Arts, Parks & Culture”
Media Award – Australasia (consumer)
- Brian Johnston, Traveller “Smooth sailing: Who’s who in a cruise ship crew”
- Andrea Black, Escape “Only on a cruise”
- Kate Armstrong, Traveller “The Alaskan glacier that makes Game of Thrones’ Wall seem feeble”
- Imogen Eveson, International Traveller “The New Wave”
