Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has released the full programme for this year’s Cruise360 Australasia conference, which will examine developments and commercial opportunities across the expanding international cruise market under the theme “Future Ready. Client Ready. Cruise Ready.”
The 2-day event will take place at Sydney's International Convention Centre on 17th and 18th September, bringing together international cruise executives, industry specialists and Australian travel professionals.
The programme is intended to provide cruise advisors with practical knowledge for working with changing markets and increasingly digitally connected customers.
CLIA's Executive Director Australasia Joel Katz said the 2026 conference had been structured around the evolving role of the cruise advisor, with an emphasis on commercial skills, market knowledge and the ability to remain a trusted source of advice. He noted that the Sydney event would be CLIA’s first 2-day conference in the city and that the programme had been redesigned to provide information and ideas that advisors could apply directly to their businesses.
The programme will include a session titled “Stop Selling, Start Seducing: Welcome to the Desire Economy”, featuring Christopher Leigh, Managing Director Asia Pacific of Globus Family of Brands. Drawing on his background in luxury retail, Leigh will examine changing consumer expectations and approaches to selling premium travel.
Quark Expeditions' President Sam Seward will lead “The Dollars and Sense of Selling to the Edge of the World”, focusing on the polar expedition market and the opportunities for travel advisors to introduce clients to more remote destinations.
River cruising will be addressed through “The River Games: Winning the River Cruise Customer”, bringing competing cruise brands together to examine the sector’s growth, changing customer demographics and strategies for converting ocean cruisers and touring customers to river itineraries.
The programme will also feature “Young Guns: The Next Generation Selling Cruise”, in which emerging cruise industry professionals will discuss career development, building customer trust and adapting cruise retail to changing consumer behaviour.
Other sessions include an international panel examining global cruise trends and a series of discussions on artificial intelligence aimed at translating the technology into practical applications for travel businesses. Content marketing specialist Hannah Statham will deliver a keynote focused on reaching travellers who have not previously considered cruising and converting first-time customers.
Cruise360 Australasia will combine the conference programme with an industry cocktail event and an exhibition featuring CLIA members, destinations, suppliers and Executive Partners, providing delegates with opportunities for networking and product engagement alongside the educational sessions.