Cruise News - CLIA Cruise3sixty Conference
June 19 - 2013 : Vancouver Hosts Sold-Out Cruise3sixty Conference
Starting today, Vancouver will welcome 1,700 travel agents and cruise line representatives from around the world for sold-out trade conference cruise3sixty, taking place June 19 to 23. Pacific Rim Cruise Association – a consortium comprised of Tourism Vancouver, Destination BC, Port Metro Vancouver and the Vancouver Airport Authority – has worked with conference organizers to bring the internationally recognized event to the city for the second time in three years. Cruise3sixty is typically held in Fort Lauderdale, and Vancouver is the only other city that has hosted the conference.
"We’re thrilled that cruise3sixty has returned to Vancouver, a decision that showcases our city’s international reputation as a premiere home port and travel destination," said Dayna Miller, director of Travel Trade Sales for Tourism Vancouver. "Conference organizers are continually impressed by Vancouver’s variety of cruise ship product and quality convention facilities. The conference will give travel agents the opportunity to experience these firsthand, in addition to the city’s attractions and parks, diverse neighbourhoods, restaurants and outdoor activities."
"Cruise3sixty is the largest cruise-focused travel agent conference in North America, attracting industry professionals from across the U.S., Canada and internationally," said Greg Wirtz, president of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) North West and Canada. "Vancouver’s spectacular natural beauty and cosmopolitan surroundings are a great complement to this conference, reinforcing the value, desirability and affordability of the cruise vacation experience."
Vancouver’s esteem within the cruise industry is largely driven by high satisfaction scores passengers consistently give to the destination, including its scenic port and award-winning airport. These ratings were confirmed in 2012 through a passenger survey commissioned and administered by Pacific Rim Cruise Association. More than 1,150 passengers reported on all aspects of their visit to Vancouver, including their experience at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and the city’s cruise terminal at Canada Place, as well as their levels of satisfaction with the city and its tourism offerings. The study also analyzed passenger spending, thereby highlighting economic benefits of the cruise industry for Vancouver and other B.C. communities.
Key findings from the study include:
Visitors expressed high satisfaction with their visits to Vancouver, with 92 percent rating their visit "good" or "very good."
Passengers spent an average of $589 per party on accommodation, food and beverage, shopping, and sightseeing. This number increased when pre-paid tours were included in the itinerary.
Respondents’ cruise vacations lasted an average of 12.9 nights. 5.5 of these were spent off the cruise.
Eight out of 10 passengers spent time in Vancouver pre- or post-cruise. Sixty-six percent stayed an average of 2.5 nights, primarily in hotels/motels (84 percent).
Cruise passengers generated approximately 257,000 – 283,000 hotel room nights in Vancouver (B.C.'s total was 441,400).
Most cruise passengers arrived into and departed from Vancouver by air, with 87 percent using YVR as their primary arrival airport. On average, passengers travelling through YVR rated the airport 4.5 out of 5 for overall experience.
Passengers rated Vancouver’s cruise terminal 4.5 out of 5 for overall experience.
Most cruise passengers arrived from the U.S. (57 percent), but a significant number were from Canada (25 percent) and overseas (18 percent).
Vancouver is Canada’s largest cruise port, and home port to many Alaska-bound vessels during the May to September cruise season. This season, Vancouver expects 820,000 cruise passengers on a total of 236 calls (including transit, one-way trips and roundtrip voyages).
For more information about CLIA and cruising, visit www.cruising.org.
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