Cruise Lines International Association's "Cruise3sixty" Conference is being held in Vancouver 2-6 June with the Australian delegates departing this week. Cruise3sixty is the official travel agency conference of the cruise line industry and is regarded as the leader in educational training and networking opportunities for cruise industry travel professionals.

With 39 percent of the Australian participants at this year's conference coming from the mobile travel manager market it sends a strong reminder to cruise companies and their general sales agents, just how important and effective they are for distribution of their product.

TravelManagers have six delegates and alone they make up 33.3 percent of all Australian ICCA travel agency delegates attending.

TravelManagers' national operations manager, Kim Wudko says it is an amazing representation.

"This is huge for TravelManagers in terms of total industry representation. More importantly however, it illustrates the professionalism of not only our personal travel managers but the growing importance of the mobile travel consultant as a credible and responsive distribution channel."

Ms. Wudko says TravelManagers' place a high priority on product training with cruising right up there. They boast 36 ICCA accredited personal travel managers with seven of them holding Cruise Master qualifications.

"Cruising is huge for TravelManagers, our clients just can't get enough of it. We focus on cruise training and support throughout the booking process, this is further supported by smart technology and expert marketing. We ensure we offer competitive product and commissions equal to or better than other organisations and are always keen to talk to potential personal travel managers who have an interest in cruising."

Ms. Wudko says the growth in cruising has been phenomenal for TravelManagers with a 132 percent increase in the first quarter of 2010 compared to 2009.

They also claim:

"In addition to the above we have had good sales growth with other companies such as MSC Cruises, Silversea, Cunard and Holland America Line."

Cruise3sixty is in its sixth year with this year's conference completely sold out. Last year's cruise3sixty was held in Fort Lauderdale with nearly 1,250 travel agents and over 300 exhibitors attending.

The programme includes an extensive educational program involving 15 Cruise Lines International Association seminars plus destination and product workshops, hands-on technology training and product updates from the CLIA's member cruise lines.

"Participants will also hear top cruise industry executives and thought provoking keynote speakers and delegates will have the opportunity to preview the Alaskan cruise fleet that sails from the world-class port at Canada Place in Vancouver."

Ms. Wudko says TravelManagers participation is through an initiative of the International Cruise Council Australasia joining forces with Cruise Lines International Association, its US counterpart, to offer Australian and New Zealand cruise consultants the opportunity to attend this high-profile North American cruise industry conference.

When this initiative was announced in January 2010 Brett Jardine, ICCA's general manager called the Australian cruise market "very young" in global terms.

"We think this exposure to the world's leading cruise market - North America, will be incredibly valuable for our agent members".

Ms. Wudko could not agree more.TravelManagers' six personal travel managers attending cruise3sixty are:

Diane Craig - North Balgowlah New South Wales
Michelle Michael-Pecora - Castle Hill New South Wales
Julianne Hall - Southport Queensland
Sharon Franks - Mascot New South Wales
Lyn Tyson - Pymble New South Wales
Chris Dobson - Geraldton Western Australia