Hays Travel is to host its first river cruise conference on board Riviera Radiance in Budapest this week.
In total 140 delegates, including agents and suppliers, will attend the retailer’s inaugural river cruise conference, which runs from November 27 until December 1.
Agents will learn about the latest ships and itineraries while experiencing the “boutique hotel” luxury of Riviera’s newest ship as it sails up the Danube, making calls at Bratislava, Slovakia, and Vienna.
Hays Travel head of cruise Catriona Parsons said the conference, themed ‘Cruising into the future’, aimed to help the group’s agents sell more river cruises by giving them first-hand experience. It follows the group’s main annual cruise conference, which was held this July on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2.
She said: “River is the biggest growth area in cruise, and it’s easy to understand why. The ships are like luxurious boutique hotels, and their smaller size makes for a convivial atmosphere, with guests happily chatting to each other – often about the incredible views and multiple destinations they experience along the way.
“Being on the river means those on board can simply hop off and walk straight into the heart of a city or town; and of course, the dining on board is exceptional.
“Our people are now excellent at selling ocean cruise, so this conference is part of our strategy to promote river, luxury and expedition cruising. It’s an opportunity for agents to experience this style of cruise first hand, and leave equipped with all the inspiration and supplier info they need to sell river to their customers.”
Hays Travel announced at its recent overseas conference in Greece that 290,000 of its customers took a river cruise in 2024, with a fifth expressing an interest in trying a river cruise over the next five years.
Suppliers due to speak at the event this weekend include Riviera Travel, Hurtigruten. Azamara Cruises, Marella / Tui, Royal Caribbean International, Ambassador Cruise Line, Vista, Avalon Waterways, Celestyal Cruises, and MSC Cruises.
The content will be a mix of river, sea, luxury, and expedition cruising.
