The first edition of ACE Informer so that our members can keep up to date with everything ACE

1. January 2012 | Association of Cruise Experts
Welcome to
the very first
issue of the
ACE Informer Welcome aboard!
In this issue: 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,
ACE & Social Media training, innovations, changes and new introductions here at
ACE.
With new introductions in mind ACE were pleased to welcome Alex Holubowicz,
2012: The Year Ahead 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
The PSA & ACE Dinner 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
The ACE your Membership. And in the meantime if you have any suggestions or thoughts on
River Cruise Expo
how we can support you better, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Enjoy ACE Informer and best wishes for the year ahead,
The Final Word
Adele
orm er
Editor
inf your update from the cruise experts

2. The ACE
The first ever ACE River Cruise Expo took place in Amsterdam
on 20th & 21st November. The response to this event was
River
overwhelming with over 250 delegates in attendance. We
decided to hold the event following the increase in interest from
Cruise
consumers for this type of cruising. Travel agents in attendance
told us that they were delighted to have the opportunity to
Expo
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.
NEW FOR 2012....
Working Lunch Cruise Showcase Important Changes to Our
The new ACE Working Lunches are open Our new evening events will be held Online Training:
to all travel agent members and are free. throughout 2012 and are a fantastic We are delighted to announce that in May we
These will be held throughout the country opportunity to network, to hear about will be unveiling a brand new look, feel and
during 2012 in cities across the UK and trends in cruising and how these changes layout of the e-learning that we offer – we
are intended to be places where informally might affect you, and to hear from a will be making further announcements about
over a sandwich we get your feedback and hand-picked selection of our cruise line that later… but we promise the biggest
opinions on what is happening in the cruise and travel partners. You will spend time overhaul of our e-learning programme as we
industry, what you would like ACE to offer and with each of the 10 partners attending, review the levels of accreditation. Of course
how we can support you better. We need before joining us for a bite to eat. What a if there are any courses that you have not
your opinions to help create a better ACE, great way to learn about some of the yet completed, then the online courses are
and a better cruise community. diverse products available. open for business as usual.
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.

3. The PSA & ACE Annual Gala Dinner
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.
2012 EVENTS… come and join us!
21st Feb • Working Lunch in Edinburgh 26th Jun • Working Lunch in Bath
12:30 – 2pm 12:30 – 2pm
21st Feb • Cruise Showcase in Newcastle Upon Tyne 26th Jun • Cruise Showcase in Exeter
6:30pm – 9pm 6:30pm – 9pm
22nd Feb • Working Lunch in Preston 27th Jun • Working Lunch in Cardiff
12:30 – 2pm 12:30 – 2pm
23rd Feb • Working Lunch in Peterborough 28th Jun • Working Lunch in Dublin
12:30 – 2pm 12:30 – 2pm
23rd Feb • Cruise Showcase in Norwich 28th Jun • Cruise Showcase in Belfast
6:30pm – 9pm 6:30pm – 9pm
1 & 2 May • ACE Cruise Convention, Southampton: To join us at any ACE event, contact Adele Fitzpatrick-Foster
Selling Cruise Conference on 020 7436 2449 or email adele@psa-ace.org

4. January 2012 | Association of Cruise Experts
Come 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
and be blogs on tumblr.
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
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
from helping to bring that community together. It is one of the reasons why we place
Andy Harmer so much trust in social media, and why face to face events have to compliment
ACE Director… 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,
Andy
ACE Director