NEWS sector’s restart, sustainability, pricing and 2022 prospects. Harry Kemble reports from Southampton
Bouldin: Pull together to exploit opportunity in 2022
T
From left: Carla Ball, Ellis Orchard, Geoff Ridgeon and Michelle Tingley, all Fred Olsen Cruise Lines
he new chair of Clia says the opportunity for cruise in 2022 is “vast” but warned lines they must be fully staffed to answer agents’ calls. In a wide-ranging keynote speech that
addressed many of the challenges facing cruise, Ben Bouldin, Royal Caribbean International’s vice-president for the EMEA region, highlighted the issue of staff shortages. “We cannot continue to run our call centres on reduced
hours with not enough people to answer our phones,” he said. The pandemic, he said, had had “the most significant
impact” on the trade that it would ever experience, partly in the form of job losses and some agents being forced to find secondary careers to earn a living. But looking ahead, he said: “We’re about to embark on
what I believe is going to be one of the most defining years the cruise industry has ever had. “The opportunity for 2022 is vast and we’re going to
have to pull together to make it happen.” Sixteen ocean-going ships and 10 river vessels are
scheduled to come into service next year, Bouldin added. Bouldin, who was appointed as Clia chair in June, cited
43% fewer travel agencies on the high street compared with 2019 and encouraged retail outlets and the high street to “bounce back”. In his Clia role, Bouldin pledged to “double” the
number of agent members in the association. “We need to make sure that we have agents
supporting the cruise industry day after day,” he said. o ‘avoid race to the bottom’
don’t want to be having a race to the bottom on price.” Jo Rzymowska, Celebrity Cruises’
vice-president and managing director, EMEA, told the session the industry was seeing “great demand” and high prices. McAuley said the “vast
majority” surveyed by Silver Travel Advisor put sustainability “quite low” on their list of priorities when booking. “I think that will change in years to come,” she said.
Bouldin also appealed to the sector to work cohesively.
He hailed the efforts of leading industry figures – including Carnival UK chairman David Dingle, Clia UK & Ireland managing director Andy Harmer and former Clia chair and Princess Cruises UK & Ireland vice-president Tony Roberts – for their work during the pandemic. He urged operators that are not part of Clia’s ranks to
join the cruise body and “be part of unified action” on improving the industry’s carbon footprint. “China, Brazil and Russia may not be there [at Cop26]
but I can assure you that the UK travel industry will not be missing in action when it comes to tackling climate change,” he added.
Clia outlines trade events and activities
Clia UK & Ireland has confirmed two major conferences next year as part of its 2022 programme. Dates for the association’s Clia Conference
in Southampton in the spring have yet to be confirmed, but its RiverView Conference 2022 will be held in Budapest, Hungary, from March 20-22. Agents will be able to experience ships
Lisa McAuley
first-hand at both conferences. Delegates at the RiverView Conference will be able to spend two nights on river vessels, with nine ships from different brands on view. Business sessions, networking
travelweekly.co.uk
opportunities and two dinners have been scheduled during the conference. This month, the trade association will host
a series of virtual events, from November 22 to 26, including brand updates, expert panel discussions and a session on the Danube. Next year, Clia plans to run trips focused
on the luxury, expedition and river sectors. The association said a “limited number”
of agents would be able to learn about the “unique selling points of these sectors”. A new-to-yacht and sail cruising guide will
also be published next year, highlighting how they differ from traditional ocean cruising.
11 NOVEMBER 2021 9 Ben Bouldin
PICTURES: Steve Dunlop
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