Travel Weekly's CruiseWorld will offer attendees a chance to
hear from dozens of industry leaders, tour a selection of nine ships and attend
a full-day exhibitor showcase, several supplier training sessions, industry
certification programs and more than 30 educational breakout sessions as part
of the three-day conference, Nov. 15 through 17.
The events team will take to the Travel
Weekly virtual studios on Monday, Sept. 11 at 2 p.m. Eastern time, to bring
this event to life for prospective attendees. During this live webinar, content
director Mary Pat Sullivan will walk through each day's activities, educational
sessions and networking opportunities.
"We are looking forward to sharing our excitement for
this year's event. We have an incredible speaker roster and a selection of
learning and networking opportunities hand-crafted to satisfy our diverse
travel agency audience," said Sullivan. "We recognize that there are
many learning opportunities in the market and we want to help travel advisers
understand how CruiseWorld can help boost their business and their passion."
During the webinar, details on the remaining spots available
for the Select Travel Advisor Recognition (STAR) program will be explained. The
core component of the STAR program is a series of scheduled one-on-one business
meetings between exhibiting suppliers and prequalified travel advisers. Travel
advisers admitted to the STAR program will receive complimentary registration
and hotel accommodation for two nights. Spots are filling up quickly, with more
than 80% already committed.
Attendees will have access to a myriad of specialization and
certification programs, including the ability to earn 25 CLIA credits, get
Special Needs Group and Hawaii Specialist certifications, and receive Travel
Institute training.
They will also have the opportunity to get hands-on workshop
training from nearly a dozen suppliers, including but not limited to VAX
Vacation Access, CCRA, Holland America Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Visit
Anchorage and Avalon Waterways.
Travel adviser peers will lead a dozen training sessions on
Friday with wide-ranging topics designed to satisfy a diverse audience of
agents who are new to the industry, developing travel sellers and established
business owners.
A hallmark of the CruiseWorld general session are the
one-on-one interviews with cruise CEOs conducted by Travel Weekly editor-in-chief
Arnie Weissmann. Weissmann will be joined by Frank Del Rio, president and CEO
of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, on Nov. 15; Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. CEO
Richard Fain on Nov. 16; and Carnival Corp. CEO Arnold Donald on Nov. 17.
This year's CruiseWorld will kick off with a lively and
entertaining Mastermind panel session, including eight top cruise industry
sales and marketing executives.
Confirmed speakers include Chris Austin, senior vice
president of global marketing and sales for Seabourn Cruise Line; John
Chernesky, vice president of North America sales for Princess Cruises and
Cunard Line; Vicki Freed, senior vice president of trade support and service
for Royal Caribbean International; Eva Jenner, vice president of sales for
Holland America Line and Seabourn Cruise Line; Joe Jiffo, senior vice president
of sales for MSC Cruises; Camille Olivere, senior vice president of sales for
Norwegian Cruise Line; Adolfo Perez, vice president of trade and sale marketing
for Carnival Cruise Line; and Dondra Ritzenthaler, senior vice president of
sales, trade support and service for Celebrity Cruises.
New to this year's general session will be a series of TW
Talks that will bring industry leaders to the stage for quick-hitting presentations.
Leaders include the top executives of travel agency organizations as well as
travel agency owners.
Click to register for Monday's webinar. To view the
full program, apply for STAR status or to register to attend, visit
www.cruiseworldshow.com.