| CW breaking news – Odell inducted into cruising’s Hall of Fame

CLIA Awards honour excellence, resilience and survival.

Former senior Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings executive and previous CLIA Chairman Steve Odell tonight became part of the Cruise Lines International Association Australasia Hall of Fame.

CLIA MD Joel Katz hailed Odell for his industry stewardship and the key role he has played in cruising’s success over more than three decades.

The induction was the culmination of the cruise sector’s first in-person awards ceremony in three years, honouring 18 travel agencies and individuals from across Australia and New Zealand.

Winners included Shaun Kavanagh from Princess Cruises who took out the inaugural Cruise Line Champion category, and House of Travel which won the Network Cruise Promotion of the Year category.

Cruise Weekly‘s Bruce Piper was also humbled to receive a special Media Cruise Champion award for the publication’s support of the industry over the last three years.

The full list of winners is below:

• Cruise Agency of the Year (Small) – Australia – Bicton Travel
• Cruise Agency of the Year (Small) – New Zealand – YOU Travel Bethlehem
• Cruise Agency of the Year (Large) – Australasia  – Ignite Travel Group
• Online Agency of the Year – Australasia – Clean Cruising
• Cruise Consultant of the Year – Australia – Sheron Konig, Travel Associates Rockhampton
• Cruise Consultant of the Year – New Zealand – Janine Mallon, Zest4Travel
• Mobile/Home-Based Agent of the Year – Australia – Megan Catterall, itravel
• Broker of the Year – New Zealand – Sharon O’Brien, Live Breathe Travel
• Rising Star – Australia – Clarees Purkiss, Cruise Travel Centre Green Hills
• Rising Star – New Zealand  – Marise Barrett, helloworld Strandon
• Agency Cruise Promotion of the Year – Australia – My Cruises
• Agency Cruise Promotion of the Year – New Zealand – Bon Voyage Cruises & Travel
• Network Cruise Promotion of the Year – Australasia – House of Travel, New Zealand
• Cruise Month Promotion of the Year – Australasia – Hunter Travel Group / MTA – Mobile Travel Agents 
• Cruise Champion – Australasia – Robyn Sinfield, Home Travel Company
• Cruise Line Champion – Australasia – Shaun Kavanagh, Princess Cruises
• Media Award – Australasia – Michael Ferrante, The West Australian
• Hall of Fame – Steve Odell

More details in Monday’s issue of Cruise Weekly.