CLIA announces 2014 Cruise Awards finalists

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

Cruise specialist agents from across Australia and New Zealand have made the short list for the February 28 event, with 19 awards to be announced across nine categories. 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.

CLIA Australasia General Manager Brett Jardine said the number of entries was the highest ever reflecting another massive year of cruising.

“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,” Mr Jardine said.

“All the finalists contributed to a prosperous year of cruising and would all have been worthy winners, so I look forward to applauding them all for their efforts on the night.”

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.

Channel 7 sportscaster and host of AFL Game Day Hamish McLachlan and actress Melanie Vallejo, best known for her role as Sophie Wong in Channel 7 series Winners & Losers, will return to MC the event.

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.

Following the success of last year’s official after party, CLIA Executive Partner and market leader in online travel technology, TravelTek, will again host an event after the awards.

2014 CRUISE INDUSTRY AWARDS - 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 SA

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”

sourced:traveldailynews.asia