Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) announced that the ninth annual cruise3sixty conference and trade show is reaching near sell-out status, with nearly 1,300 national and international travel selling professionals registered to attend the event set for June 19-23 at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

Cruise3sixty is the largest cruise focused travel agent conference in North America, and is attracting participants from nearly all 50 states and Canadian provinces as well as international representation, including a contingent of 40 from Australia.  Approximately 46 percent of the agent audience will be Canadian while the total number of delegates at cruise3sixty 2013 is expected to surpass 2,000.

A comprehensive series of educational sessions and seminars will be offered alongside three days of general sessions led by industry leaders and a two-day trade show featuring more than 300 exhibitors and all 26 CLIA North America cruise lines. Agents also will have the opportunity to tour 10 cruise ships and attend a dedicated CLIA Specialty Cruise Collection Showcase on Thursday, June 20 that will provide an in-depth look at an increasingly popular and growing segment of the cruise industry. CLIA members and non-members can register now at www.cruise3sixty.com. Upon reaching sell-out status, cruise3sixty registrations will be managed by waitlist pending cancellations.

The general session programming at cruise3sixty kicks off Friday, June 21 with a keynote presentation from CLIA president and CEO Christine Duffy. American Express Travel Executives, Tony Gonchar, VP American Express Travel Network and Mark Cooper, VP and Associate Publisher of Departures Magazine, will present “Insights” on trends in cruise, leisure travel and the luxury market.  An interactive discussion will follow featuring Vicki Freed, SVP Sales and Trade Support & Service, Royal Caribbean International, Dondra Ritzenthaler, SVP Sales and Trade Support & Service, Celebrity Cruises, Andy Stuart, EVP Global Sales and Passenger Services, Norwegian Cruise Line, Jan Swartz, EVP, Sales, Marketing & Customer Service, Princess Cruises/Cunard Line and Vicki Tomasino, Regional Vice President Community and Trade Relations at Carnival Cruise Lines. Joining these cruise line executives are travel agency leaders, Michelle Fee, CEO, CruisePlanners, Nicole Mazza, Chief Marketing Officer, TravelSavers and Karin Viera, CTC, Vice-President Sales, Vacation.com.

Saturday’s general session will feature a keynote address from renowned speaker and author Nolan Burris, presenting attendees with client and business-building advice titled “From Agent to Advisor to Indispensable.” Burris will later facilitate a discussion between cruise line leaders and advisors including Randall Soy, EVP of Marketing & Sales for Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Mark Kammerer, SVP of Marketing & North American Sales for Holland America Line, Ken Muskat, SVP of Sales & Marketing for MSC Cruises, and Scott Knutson, VP Sales & Marketing, North America of Costa Cruises.

On Sunday, June 23, cruise3sixty will feature motivation and education in an entertaining format with renowned speakers including; “Golden Nuggets of Sales and Service” from Nancy Friedman, The Telephone Doctor, who will share 21 customer service and sales techniques to achieve excellence. Kathleen Passanisi, a noted speaker and “therapeutic humorist” will also present on using laughter and life balance to boost employee productivity.

Featured evening events will include the Thursday, June 20, Welcome Reception at the Vancouver Aquarium located in the heart of world-famous Stanley Park, sponsored by Pacific Rim Cruise Association and American Express.

The annual Hall of Fame Dinner & Awards gala on Friday, June 21, will honor cruise industry individuals whose efforts and accomplishments represent a significant contribution to the development and growth of cruise vacations and feature remarkable cruise line entertainment. Celebrity Cruises, in partnership with 54 Below – Broadway’s Nightclub, will feature a performance by stage and screen star and recording artist, Megan Hilty.  Sponsored by Royal Caribbean International, an innovative vocal collaboration, MOSAIC, combines elements of funk, pop, rock, jazz, R&B, and opera to create a musical experience produced entirely by the human voice. The evening closes with a chic GlowH20 nightclub-style after party, sponsored by Norwegian Cruise Line.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is the world’s largest cruise industry trade association with representation in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australasia. CLIA represents the interests of cruise lines, travel agents, port authorities and destinations, and various industry business partners before regulatory and legislative policy makers. CLIA is also engaged in travel agent training, research and marketing communications to promote the value and desirability of cruise holiday vacations with thousands of travel agency and travel agent members. CLIA’s Associate Member and Executive Partner program includes the industry’s leading providers of supplies and services that help cruise lines provide a safe, environmentally-friendly and enjoyable holiday vacation experience for millions of passengers every year.