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Australia's top cruise agents

They're among the best cruise sellers in Australia and they may very well walk away with the industry's version of an 'Oscar' at this year's Cruise Industry Awards.

They’re among the best cruise sellers in Australia and they may very well walk away with the industry’s version of an ‘Oscar’ at this year’s Cruise Industry Awards.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia has announced the finalists for the 2014 Cruise Industry Awards, which is set to be the biggest on record.

This year the event held on 28 February will distribute 19 awards across nine categories to the best cruise special agents from Australia and New Zealand.

cruise award

The accolades include a new entry into the CLIA Hall of Fame to be announced on the night, and the first awards for Online Agency of the Year and home based/mobile agents.

According to CLIA Australasia general manager Brett Jardine said this year the awards received the highest ever number of entries, which he says reflects the growing hype around cruising Down Under.

“The entries were of an exceptionally high standard making the judges’ job that much tougher. There’s no doubt that it’s getting harder and harder to pick winners.”

Brett Jardine, CLIA Australasia general manager 

The sell-out 14th Annual Cruise Industry Awards will be held at the Star Event Centre in Sydney with a record 500-plus industry members attending.

This year, the event will be hosted by AFL Game Day Hamish McLachlan and actress Melanie Vallejo.

Dubai Tourism will make its event debut, joining with Emirates as Platinum Sponsor of the event. Carnival Australia and Royal Caribbean will both be gold sponsors while silver sponsors will include Avalon Waterways, Windstar, Cruise Baltic and MSC Cruises.

Get in on the Cruise Industry Awards chatter by tweeting @CLIAAustralasia and #CruiseAwards14 during the evening.

Here is the full list to finalists:

Cruise Agency of the Year – Australia

Bicton Travel, Perth WA
Cruise Express, Balmain NSW
Cruise Travel Centre, Kotara NSW
Phil Hoffmann Travel, Glenelg SA
Phil Hoffmann Travel, Norwood S

Online Agency of the Year – Australia

Clean Cruising
Ecruising
Ozcruising

Home Based/Mobile Agent of the Year – Australia

Maxine Adams, MTA – Mobile Travel Agent
Wendy Allen, MTA – Mobile Travel Agent
Derek Harwood, TravelManagers

Cruise Consultant of the Year – Australia

Christie Gowan, Clean Cruising QLD
Martine Hero, Clean Cruising QLD
Michel Middleton, Bicton Travel WA
Kathy Pavlidis, Cruisabout Kew VIC

Rising Star Award – Australia

Ashleigh Fountain, Ozcruising ACT
Rafer Reweti, Our Vacation Centre QLD
Brenda Hayward, Noller & Turner Travel Associates QLD

Agency Promotion of the Year – Australia

Alpha Travel, Claremont VIC – “Sunset Soiree”
Dream Maker Travel, Mt Gravatt QLD – “4BC Radio Celebrity Groups Campaign”
Holiday & Cruise Centre, Ballarat VIC – “Brand the Bus Campaign”

Network Promotion of the Year – Australasia

Harvey World Travel & United Travel (New Zealand) – “Cruise Expo”
Mondo Travel (New Zealand) – “Cruise TV”
Phil Hoffmann Travel Group (Australia) – “CLIA Cruise Week”
United Travel (New Zealand) – “Cruise Insider Magazine”

Media Award

Angie Kelly, Sun Herald Traveller – “The Sea Day Diaries”
Patrick Smith, World Magazine – “Sydney by Ship”
Sue Wallace, The Border Mail – “Mekong Memories”

Who do you hope wins at this year’s awards?