CLIA reveals winners at Cruise Industry Awards

The cruise industry turned out in force for an evening of celebrations on Saturday as the winners of the annual Cruise Industry Awards were revealed – the event’s first time under the CLIA banner.

The high profile gala is a chance for CLIA Australasia and its 32 member cruise lines to commend local agents for their outstanding contribution to the booming cruise industry, according to chairman Gavin Smith.

“In the wake of another record year of cruising, the Cruise Awards offer a great way to recognise the important role that travel agents play in the ongoing growth and success of our industry,” he said.

“One of the reasons we are up there with the biggest and fastest growing cruise markets in the world is because of Australian and New Zealand agents’ passion and commitment to our industry.”

More than 400 industry members attended the gala event at Sydney’s Doltone House on Hyde Park which was hosted by sports presenter Hamish McLachlan and actress Melanie Vallejo.

Over the course of the evening, 14 winners across six categories were named with the top award of the night for Australian Cruise Agency of the year going to Western Australia’s Bicton Travel.

The event also saw the Neil Frazer Award replaced with a new Hall of Fame award, with Cruiseco chief executive Steve Lloyd confirmed as the inaugural CLIA Hall of Fame inductee.

The 2013 Cruise Industry Awards winners are:

Cruise Agency of the Year – Australia                          

GOLD: Bicton Travel                  Perth WA                                                         

SILVER: Ozcruising                   Philip ACT        

BRONZE: Cruise Express          Balmain NSW                                       

Cruise Agency of the Year – New Zealand

GOLD: Manly United Travel        Manly

SILVER: Lets Cruise                  Auckland

BRONZE: Cruiseabout               Takapuna

Cruise Consultant of the Year – Australia                                 

Deborah Long                           Weston Cruise Travel ACT

Cruise Consultant of the Year – New Zealand

Evelyn Lee                                Midday Travel Auckland

Rising Star – Australia                                                                         

Kerri Anderson                          Just Cruises, Brisbane QLD

Rising Star – New Zealand

Billy Gutierrez                            Cruiseabout Pukekohe

Agency Promotion of the Year – Australia                    

Easy Travel and Cruise SA         “Best Job in the Bridge”

Agency Promotion of the Year – New Zealand              

Harvey World Travel Bayfair       “Child Cancer Foundation Promotion”    

Network Promotion of the Year – Australasia               

Cruiseabout (Australia)               “What Kind of Cruiser Are You”

CLIA Hall of Fame

Steve Lloyd – CEO Cruiseco