27 February 2009

!CCA Australasia goes north to Alaska

SYDNEY - The annual International Cruise Council Australasia Masters Conference at Sea will be held in conjunction with Holland America Line for the first time this year.

Since 1999 the event has been hosted by Norwegian Capricorn Line, Captain Cook Cruises, Star Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Norwegian Cruise Line, Costa, P&O Cruises Australia, Royal Caribbean International and MSC Cruises.

The Alaska Travel Industry Association, an associate member of ICCA, is supporting the 2009 event which will be held on board the 1,916-passenger WesterdamÃ¢â¬â¢s seven-day Ã¢â¬ËœAlaskan ExplorerÃ¢â¬â¢ voyage from Seattle on September 20.

The programme includes a pre-cruise night at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel and a sightseeing tour of Seattle.

Designed to enhance Council-accredited agentÃ¢â¬â¢s sales and marketing skills along with more detailed cruise knowledge to help boost their sales, the seven-night Masters Conference will also include free time to enjoy the spectacular scenery of Glacier Bay and ports of Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan in Alaska as well as Victoria in Canada.

All participants are guaranteed a verandah stateroom on the 82,500-ton Westerdam.

Special guest speaker at the conference will be US-based trainer of travel agents Scott Koepf, who will share his 26 years of retail travel experience and skill as a motivational speaker.

Agents will gain Masters accreditation by attending all the conference sessions and completing a post-conference work-based case study.

The conference is open to all Council-accredited agents and a partner, friend or family member (over 21 years) but cabins are limited so register now.