Speakers announced for closing day of CLIA conference
Ellen Bettridge, president and CEO of Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, and explorer, scientist and author Felicity Aston will be guest speakers at the CLIA 2019 Conference.
Both women will speak onboard Queen Mary 2 on May 17, the final day of the flagship three-day conference.
Aston is the only woman in the world to have skied across Antarctica alone, making the 1,744km, 59-day journey in January 2012.
The achievement also made her the first person in the world to traverse the continent purely by muscle power, without the aid of kites or machines.
In 2015, she was awarded the Queen’s Polar Medal for services in Antarctica and was appointed MBE for services to Polar Exploration.
Aston has led notable expeditions including the first British women’s crossing of Greenland, a 700km winter crossing of Lake Baikal in Siberia and an adventurous expedition in Iceland for young people with a brain injury.
Bettridge (left) has been at Uniworld since 2016 and has overseen the launch of U River Cruises, as well the unveiling of three new luxury ships in Uniworld’s fleet. She joined from Azamara Club Cruises, where she served as vice president sales and marketing, responsible for growing Azamara’s markets in the Americas.
Previously she held the position of president, the Americas at Silversea, where she developed and implemented sales strategies and marketing campaigns throughout the US, Canada and Latin America.
CLIA UK & Ireland director Andy Harmer said: "CLIA is delighted to announce Uniworld’s Ellen Bettridge and expedition leader Felicity Aston as special guest speakers at our flagship Conference.
"As a proven leader within the cruise and travel sector, Ellen’s insight knowledge of the ocean and river cruise industry which will be invaluable to CLIA travel agents. And we are very much looking forward to hearing from Felicity Aston, appearing courtesy of Silversea, and her fascinating and incredible experiences conquering the polar regions."
Taking place in Southampton from May 15 to 17, the three-day conference will include a trade fair, a full day of conference sessions and a gala dinner. Delegates will have the chance to visit two of the three ships in port for the event: Celebrity Edge, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 and MSC’s Preziosa.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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