informeryour update from the cruise experts

I am delighted that we have this regular opportunity to give you an insight into all things ACE. The ACE Informer’s major purpose is to help you to keep up to date with news on events, training, innovations, changes and new introductions here at ACE.

With new introductions in mind ACE were pleased to welcome Alex Holubowicz, who has joined us with a wealth of experience and knowledge. Alex will provide some very welcome support here at ACE and we were delighted to welcome him to the team.With the arrival of Alex, sadly we also lose another member of the team - Natalie Budgen has now departed for a grand world tour for six months. Whilst she will be terribly missed we are looking forward to hearing all about her travels when she returns in July.‘Change is coming to ACE’ so read on to ensure you are getting the very best from your Membership. And in the meantime if you have any suggestions or thoughts on how we can support you better, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Enjoy ACE Informer and best wishes for the year ahead,

AdeleEditor

January 2012 | Association of Cruise Experts

In this issue:

ACE & Social Media

2012: The Year Ahead

The PSA & ACE Dinner

The ACE River Cruise Expo

The Final Word

Welcome to the very first

issue of the ACE Informer Welcome aboard!

The event commenced with product presentations from all ACE River Cruise members, comprehensive trade fair and up to date information on all things river cruise from our prestigious guest speakers. Andy Harmer, ACE Director, said: “This was first time so many agents gathered in one location to hear the very latest news from the river cruise industry and for many, it was the first time they’ve set foot on a river ship.” The ACE River Cruise Expo in Amsterdam included visits to ships operated by AMA Waterways, APT, Titan Travel & Uniworld, Shearings and The River Cruise Line.

Working LunchThe new ACE Working Lunches are open to all travel agent members and are free. These will be held throughout the country during 2012 in cities across the UK and are intended to be places where informally over a sandwich we get your feedback and opinions on what is happening in the cruise industry, what you would like ACE to offer and how we can support you better. We need your opinions to help create a better ACE, and a better cruise community.

Cruise ShowcaseOur new evening events will be held throughout 2012 and are a fantastic opportunity to network, to hear about trends in cruising and how these changes might affect you, and to hear from a hand-picked selection of our cruise line and travel partners. You will spend time with each of the 10 partners attending, before joining us for a bite to eat. What a great way to learn about some of the diverse products available.

Important Changes to Our Online Training:We are delighted to announce that in May we will be unveiling a brand new look, feel and layout of the e-learning that we offer – we will be making further announcements about that later… but we promise the biggest overhaul of our e-learning programme as we review the levels of accreditation. Of course if there are any courses that you have not yet completed, then the online courses are open for business as usual.

NEW FOR 2012....

The ACE River Cruise Expo

The first ever ACE River Cruise Expo took place in Amsterdam on 20th & 21st November. The response to this event was overwhelming with over 250 delegates in attendance. We decided to hold the event following the increase in interest from consumers for this type of cruising. Travel agents in attendance told us that they were delighted to have the opportunity to learn so much about this fast moving sector and that they truly enjoyed the fantastic hospitality that was provided by our cruise line partners and all sponsors, especially Titan Travel & Uniworld and Ama Waterways who hosted the attending delegates overnight on the Antoinette and AMADante.

This year the PSA & ACE were delighted to host our 31st Annual

Dinner exclusively for members and their guests. Over 430 guests were

in attendance representing 29 cruise lines, nine ferry companies and

38 associated companies, together with their guests including many

travel agents and a host of industry partners. The PSA Annual Dinner

is a highlight in the industry’s calendar and a tremendously popular

opportunity to mix with major movers and shakers in the industry.

This year’s prestigious venue, The Dorchester, Park Lane, London

proved to be the perfect back drop for this unforgettable evening.

At this event the John Lancaster-Smith award is presented to a candidate selected by a

committee of former PSA and ACE chairmen and directors from nominations made by PSA

members. This a lifetime achievement award for services to passenger shipping – this was

presented to Nigel Lingard, one of the industry’s most respected and charismatic advocates.

Nigel only very recently retired as Sales and Marketing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise

Lines. Nigel has been unstinting in his enthusiasm for raising the profile of cruising with both

consumers and the travel trade. He has held numerous roles including board member of

the European Cruise Council, serving on various ABTA committees and as past Chairman of

the Passenger Shipping Association.

21st Feb • Working Lunch in Edinburgh 12:30 – 2pm21st Feb • Cruise Showcase in Newcastle Upon Tyne 6:30pm – 9pm22nd Feb • Working Lunch in Preston 12:30 – 2pm 23rd Feb • Working Lunch in Peterborough 12:30 – 2pm23rd Feb • Cruise Showcase in Norwich 6:30pm – 9pm

1 & 2 May • ACE Cruise Convention, Southampton: Selling Cruise Conference

The PSA & ACE Annual Gala Dinner

26th Jun • Working Lunch in Bath 12:30 – 2pm26th Jun • Cruise Showcase in Exeter 6:30pm – 9pm27th Jun • Working Lunch in Cardiff 12:30 – 2pm28th Jun • Working Lunch in Dublin 12:30 – 2pm28th Jun • Cruise Showcase in Belfast 6:30pm – 9pm

To join us at any ACE event, contact Adele Fitzpatrick-Foster on 020 7436 2449 or email adele@psa-ace.org

2012 EVENTS… come and join us!

ACE is running screaming into the 21st Century and is now available on the following social networks. Come and make friends with us on facebook, tweet us on twitter, check out some great photos on flickr and read the most up to date blogs on tumblr.

Come and be social! www.facebook.com/pages/Association-of-Cruise-Experts-ACE/255415147838218

Twitter : @aceandyharmer @acetweeting

http://www.flickr.com/photos/acecruiseexperts/

http://cruiseexperts.tumblr.com/

www.youtube.com/user/acecruiseexperts

from Andy Harmer

ACE Director…

January 2012 | Association of Cruise Experts

It is a great sector of the industry that we work in and there is an unmistakable sense of a great cruise community. There is no other sector of the travel industry that I am aware of that works so closely together for the common good – the growth of cruising by UK guests.

And at ACE we are very much aware of the important role that we can play in helping to bring that community together. It is one of the reasons why we place so much trust in social media, and why face to face events have to compliment everything that we do online. Networking is an essential part of growing any business, and we are happy to offer that at our events in 2012 in spades.

We have recently announced a new series of evening events in 2012 – our Cruise Showcases – that will happen throughout the year, and that will hopefully come to a place quite near to you. These will be a great place to mix and mingle, as well as a place to hear from a selection of our cruise line and travel partners. Come along and join us if you can.

Of course the event that dominates our 2012 calendar is the ACE Cruise Convention, and the first part of that – the Selling Cruise Conference – takes place in Southampton on May 1st & 2nd. The idea is to give you the best advice, selling tips, information, and practical guidance possible. We are working through our Working Lunches (where you can give us your feedback and ideas), and with our travel and cruise line partners to make sure we really deliver an exceptional event.We are all too aware that to be successful during difficult times we must be bold, and we must absorb some expert advice and ideas, and plenty of inspiration.

Sharing new ideas and initiatives amongst the whole industry is what makes us a community, and we are delighted that you are part of it.I look forward to seeing you soon,

AndyACE Director