CLIA Marks Record Year with Record Night of Nights

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia celebrated another massive year of cruising with a record night at the 2014 Cruise Industry Awards at The Star Event Centre in Sydney on Saturday.

With two new award categories in the mix, an unprecedented 19 award winners were announced across nine categories. 

The night saw Western Australia’s Bicton Travel take out the top gong for 2014, Gold Agency of the Year, for the fourth time in five years. Accepting the award, Bicton founder Carole Smethurst thanked her team in Perth.

“I’ve got fantastic staff at home – all of you deserve this,” Ms Smethurst said.

Cruise Express Balmain took out the silver award while Phil Hoffmann Travel Glenelg won bronze.

Ozcruising received the inaugural Online Agency of the Year award, while MTA’s Wendy Allen became the first mobile agent to be recognised at the industry awards night.

Recently retired journalist Ian McMahon, founder of Travel Bulletin and long time editor of Travel Weekly, was welcomed into the CLIA Hall of Fame for his long running commitment to the industry as a trade editor. He said he felt privileged and honoured to receive the accolade.

“I hope I’ve reported on the industry with integrity and chronicled events in an illuminating and enlightening way,” Mr McMahon said.

CLIA Australasia Chairman Gavin Smith said the annual awards night was a chance for the association and its 34 member cruise lines to celebrate the outstanding contribution of local agents. 

“As the Australasian industry goes from strength to strength, it’s no surprise that our 14th awards night was our biggest yet. With two new awards recognising the changing landscape of the industry and more than 500 industry members coming together to applaud their peers’ hard work and dedication, it really is the biggest night on the cruise calendar,” Mr Smith said. 

In a moving tribute, Mr Smith recognised former P&O Cruises New Zealand manager and CLIA board advisory member Shannon Currie posthumously for his decade-long contribution to New Zealand cruising.

Close friend and Seabourn NZ GSA Joe O’Sullivan accepted the acknowledgment on behalf of the Currie family, saying he played an instrumental role in the industry. 

“I think he would have been slightly embarrassed by the limelight but immensely proud to be recognised by his peers,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

The sell-out gala event was again hosted by Channel 7 sportscaster and host of AFL Game Day Hamish McLachlan and Winners & Losers actress Melanie Vallejo. An after party sponsored by TravelTek saw celebrations cruise well into the night.

For a full list of winners please see the following page. For more information visit www.cruising.org.au

Information supplied by: Cruise Lines International Australasia [ CLIA ].

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