GENTING Cruise Lines senior vice president Michael Goh has been confirmed as the final keynote speaker for the 23rd annual Australian Cruise Association Conference.
The event begins in Geelong on 4 September and finishes September 6.
Mr Goh joins an agenda featuring Melissa Witsoe, product manager for Windstar Cruises in Seattle, Adam Armstrong, managing director of Silversea Cruises in Australia and New Zealand who is a first-time speaker at the conference and Captain Nikolaos Antalis, Association vice president marine and safety for Royal Caribbean International – RCI.
Windstar will soon sail into Australia and Silversea’s flagship Silver Muse debuted here earlier in 2019 – this region already being the cruise line’s third largest market.
Captain Antalis is to provide a portside perspective based on his experience with RCI co-ordinating ship movements.
This information is expected to be important in planning for an increased presence from RCI in Australia.
Associate Professor Anne Hardy from the University of Tasmania rounds out the keynote speaker line-up.
The choice of Geelong as the venture is said to recognise the important role regional destinations play in the growth of cruising in Australia.
This year, it will be emceed by Melanie de Sousa, an advocate of the Melbourne visitor economy for more than two decades.
It is anticipated around 120 people will attend the conference.
