CLIA's World's Largest Cruise Night Set for Oct. 17

CLIA announced that its third annual World's Largest Cruise Night (WLCN), the largest one-day travel agency initiative of its kind, will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 17. The event serves as the centerpiece for October's National Cruise Vacation Month, which each year focuses consumer attention on the pleasures of cruising.

On Oct. 17, CLIA-member travel agencies across North America will promote cruising in one 24-hour period. The wide-ranging portfolio of one-day events will include luncheons, cocktail parties, dinners, full-scale expos, and many other activities."CLIA predicts that the third annual WLCN will break even more records than last year's event," said Terry Dale, president and CEO of CLIA, the primary marketing association for the North American cruise industry and 16,500 North American member travel agencies. "

Each year WLCN has picked up dramatic momentum, with the 2006 event doubling the sales of 2005."A CLIA agent survey revealed that last year's WLCN event generated 14,860 bookings, which translated to $18.5 million in cruise sales that yielded more than $2.4 million in travel agency commissions. "Agents who participated said they were very pleased with the results, both in terms of awareness and bookings," Dale said. "Over 700 agencies conducted an event on WLCN -- and 89 percent said they plan to participate in 2007." Agency registration for the 2007 WLCN will open on CLIA's website this summer. For more information, visit www.cruising.org.