Issues & Trends – Feb 2010
Cruise Awards
Standing ovation for Richard Cranmer, Phil Hoffmann takes gold
A spontaneous standing ovation for Richard Cranmer was a highlight of the Australasian Cruise Awards presented at the International Cruise Council Australasia’s (ICCA) black tie event in Sydney last month.
The 360 members of the cruise industry in attendance rose to applaud Cranmer after ICCA chairperson Karen Christensen announced he was the recipient of the Neil Frazer award for outstanding contribution to the cruise industry by an individual.
Christensen paid tribute to Cranmer’s “cruising passion, knowledge and experience” over a 40 year career during which he introduced a number of cruise lines to Australia, culminating in his company’s (Discover the World Marketing), representation of Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises.
“Thanks to him many of you have become wealthy and very successful cruise agents,” Christensen told the audience.
The attendance of 360 which packed the awards venue, Dockside in Darling Harbour, reflected the buoyant mood of the Australian cruise industry, increasingly recognised as the growing and profitable sector underpinning the viability of bricks and mortar travel agents.
And Christensen reported feedback from ICCA cruise line members indicated 2010 cruise sales were already looking strong.
An exuberant Phil Hoffmann caught the mood perfectly, asking the audience: “How can you not be passionate (about selling cruising) with the products we are so lucky to have to sell? Only two per cent of Australians have been on a cruise – what a fantastic opportunity for us.”
His comments came as he accepted Phil Hoffmann Travel’s gold award for Australian Cruise Agency of the Year, one of two major awards giving him good reason for exuberance. The Australian Cruise Consultant of the Year was named as Christa Kinnear from Phil Hoffmann Travel.
The Cruise Consultant of the Year awards have now been named the Frank Johnson Awards to honour cruise wholesaling and retailing pioneer, the late Frank Johnson whose widow, Joan Johnson, was on hand to present the awards.
ICCA general manager Brett Jardine said: “The competition for these annual awards grows each year, which points to travel agents around Australia and New Zealand not only recognising the boost cruising can provide to their businesses, but also the flow-on benefits that winning a peer-voted award delivers to their businesses.”