Is Pete Kollar the most popular bloke on the cruise scene? The well-travelled, highly educated cruise-travel expert has been integral to the development of CLIA’s training program for travel advisors in Australia, New Zealand and across Asia.
Can you tell travel advisors who might not be familiar with CLIA how the organisation can help them and their clients?
CLIA travel agents are always among the most successful cruise specialists in the country, and we know from cruise line feedback that CLIA agents sell more cruise and earn more commission.
CLIA membership is an opportunity to gain exclusive training and education, join important industry events, establish important industry connections, earn rewards for booking cruises and take advantage of an incredible wealth of online resources. Plugging in to CLIA is the best way to establish a good foundation of knowledge that will help you better serve your clients and grow your business.
What inspired you make the leap from working in high-profile travel agencies to CLIA Australasia back in 2012?
After a career at sea, I returned to Australia eager to establish a lasting presence in the cruise industry. Initially managing a Cruiseabout store, I identified gaps in agent knowledge and later transitioned to cruise product and training to better aid the way we sell cruise.
The chance to shape content for our evolving local market through the International Cruise Council Australasia (ICCA – now CLIA) was a pivotal moment that fuelled my passion for advancing cruise education.
In your 12-plus years at CLIA what are some of the achievements you are most proud of?
I get inspired by observing the growth of agents through our Masters Program, seeing them gain confidence in their path. I smile at each nominee and winner at the CLIA awards night.
I’m proud of the effort over a decade to have embedded cruise industry content into travel and tourism education. Personally, winning the global Seatrade Award for Best Talent Development in 2022 was a humbling accolade.
Working with Catriona Rowntree on her book The Best of World Cruising hardiegrant.com was deeply meaningful, and I’m grateful for my involvement.
What are the biggest changes you’ve seen in cruise over the past 25 years you’ve been involved in the industry?
Cruise lines have matured and evolved into distinct personalities, through aligned partnerships, innovations and services. Also, there has been a pivotal shift in connectivity over the past 15 years, boosting market confidence, empowered consumer sharing, and shattering outdated cruise perceptions. The next frontier is AI personalisation to cater to individual cruiser preferences.
What were some of the highlights of your time working for Crystal Cruises – and can you tell us a bit about your recent reunion with friends from the cruise line?
World cruises were the most memorable and I’ve been fortunate to complete five. For two of these I was the Sports Director, playing paddle tennis with US TV celebrities and movie stars like Patrick Swayze.
The itineraries also included overland journeys, so I’ve had the chance to balloon over Cappadocia, take the Rovos Rail across Africa, dance at Carnival in Brazil, and witness space shuttle launches.
Recently, I visited my friends on Crystal Serenity, a ship I saw during its construction in France in 2002. It was like a family reunion because we’ve gone through so many experiences together.
Having grown up in Sydney, where you are now based, how many countries have you visited or lived in during your career?
I was a slow starter… two countries before I was 26 (Fiji and Hong Kong), but after that it climbed to 127 countries, or a total of 173 if you count territories. A huge number have been made possible by my onboard roles. I have also lived in Miami and London for short stints.
Any favourites among those places, or destinations you still have on your travel wish list?
A favourite is the Norwegian coastline up to Svalbard because of its union of land and scenic cruising. Another is Iceland and Reykjavik. I love cities like Stockholm, Boston, Copenhagen and Tokyo.
For a raw experience, cruising up the Irrawaddy in Myanmar is incredible. Antarctica is special for any human reconnecting with Earth.
One I am missing… Nepal. That is my sole bucket-list item at the moment.
Did you ever imagine that your degrees in exercise physiology and teaching would lead to working in the cruise industry – and what’s your best advice for travel enthusiasts who want to begin a career in cruise?
Follow your joy and energy, where time seems to disappear. I was apprehensive about each career shift, but each decision transformed my life. The degrees may have passed, but they helped me understand myself and develop transferable skills.
My top tip for cruise industry newcomers is to network. Attend every event and function possible as the strength of cruise is its community – career learning that can’t be found in a course.
What do you see as the key trends in the cruise industry, particularly the luxury sector, over the next few years?
The key trend in the cruise industry, particularly the luxury sector, are tailored experiences, though I also see the integration of augmented reality into shoreside experiences advancing.
What would you most love to be doing, professionally and personally, in the next few years?
I always love empowering people, whether it is with knowledge, self-development, or confidence through coaching.
For more information, visit cruising.org.au