CLIA UK & Ireland has unveiled the first inductees into its new cruise Hall of Fame.

The honours – announced at CLIA’s annual Winter Ball – were awarded to Catriona Parsons, head of cruise commercial at Hays Travel; Edwina Lonsdale, managing director at Mundy Cruising; and Cruise Britain.

Parsons was recognised for being “one of the leading advocates for cruise within retail businesses that are well represented on the high street”.

She was praised for her “can-do attitude, resilience and belief in cruise holidays” and for “growing cruise as a proportion of Hays’ holiday business via an innovative approach”.

Lonsdale, meanwhile, was hailed as a “visionary in the industry and in cruise retailing”, and for “being a true ambassador for the whole of the cruise community”.

CLIA Hall of Fame a ‘regular fixture’

Cruise Britain was commended for “shining a light on the benefits of inbound cruise tourism, as well as cruise holidays that start in the UK”.

The organisation was also credited with developing a “special relationship” with CLIA that has spearheaded and supported a “range of new partnership initiatives across the cruise eco-system”.

CLIA added that the Hall of Fame will now be a regular fixture in the calendar, with awards announced annually at the Winter Ball.

CLIA UK & Ireland MD Andy Harmer said: “Many congratulations to our first ever Hall of Fame inductees.

“It is a privilege to work in an industry with such inspiring contemporaries and we would like to thank them for their incredible work and vision. 

“It is a tribute to our winners that their organisations, and indeed the wider cruise sector, have finished the year in such an encouraging position. They should all feel enormously proud of their accomplishments.”