Salford Quays based company, Cruise1st, is the proud winner of the CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) Travel Agent of the Year Award, announced at the annual Cruise Excellence Awards at the recent CLIA’s Cruise Forum & Winter Ball.
The ceremony recognises those that contribute to the ever-growing cruise industry, which saw 1,971,000 million Britons take a cruise in 2017, representing an increase of 4.3 per cent against 2016.
Scooping the Award – against all their major competitors – Cruise1st, one of the UK’s leading cruise specialists, has been recognised for its outstanding customer service, breadth of product and understanding of the market and its outstanding commitment to the growth of the cruise industry.
As commented by Dan Townsley, CEO of Cruise1st, “We are exceptionally proud to have won this award and see it as a real indication that great service, amazing staff and hard work certainly pays off. We’ve been building and growing our business over the last few years, even opening the country’s first ever interactive and immersive cruise store in Manchester last year. We now offer not only the best customer service to everyone from regular cruisers to first-timers, but also to give customers great deals on cruises, free hotel stays, exclusive offers and outstanding land excursions. For this to be recognised by our peers is simply brilliant. We can’t say a big enough Thank You for this honour.”
Voting for the CLIA Awards is by a Senior Team at the organisation. Andy Harmer, CLIA UK & Ireland director, said: “The CLIA Cruise Excellence Awards celebrates the cruise sector and its continued success. The ceremony recognises the individuals and businesses that make a huge contribution to help this industry grow. From ocean to river, luxury to expedition, there is so much choice when it comes to cruise holidays that there truly is a cruise for everyone. The challenge for travel agents is to be able to show this to those who are yet-to-cruise or have never even considered a cruise, something that each of the finalists at this awards ceremony do outstandingly well.”
