All of the ACE team are now busy making final preparations for the second instalment of its hugely successful UK Cruise Convention, which is taking place in Southampton from May 19-21.

This year’s conference programme has the involvement of top industry speakers including Terry Dale, the CEO of CLIA (the American equivalent of the PSA and ACE), Costa Cruises’ senior vice president of Sales Mario Martini, and  five visiting cruise ships, training workshops and a trade fair, the event is set to be even bigger and better than last year’s hugely successful first outing in Dover.

Four hundred and fifty agents will be making the time to attend the convention, which was conceived to support and develop the very travel agents that have helped to make cruising the burgeoning industry that it is today.

ACE is passionate about creating new platforms for learning and over the past year has introduced initiatives ranging from online training to cruise expo events and ‘Learning at Sea’ seminars.

The people who work in travel deserve every chance to benefit from training events such as these and I am proud that so many agents have chosen to invest time in their future by joining us next week.

Whether new to the cruise industry or an old hand, I hope that the 2008 UK Cruise Convention inspires you and encourages you to continue the valuable learning process.

We look forward to seeing you in Southampton!