Travel Trade Shows That Matter to Cruise Sellers
Global fairs, cruise conferences, consortium meetings and roadshows: what each is for and how to choose.
Get Free Cruise QuotesWhich Travel Trade Shows Matter to Cruise Sellers?
There are hundreds of travel trade shows each year, and no seller can go to all of them. The useful question is not “which is biggest?” but “where will I meet the suppliers and colleagues who help me sell more cruises?” Here are the main kinds, with examples whose organizers publish their details online.
The Main Kinds of Trade Event
| Type | Examples | Why a cruise seller might go |
|---|---|---|
| Global travel trade fairs | ITB Berlin, WTM London | Meet tourism boards, tour operators and European partners; see where the industry is heading |
| Inbound marketplaces | IPW (run by the U.S. Travel Association) | Mainly for U.S. suppliers meeting international buyers; useful if you sell U.S. cruise-and-stay packages to overseas clients |
| Cruise industry conferences | Seatrade Cruise Global; events run by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) for its advisor members | Hear directly from cruise line leaders, learn about new ships and ports, and train |
| Advisor association events | ASTA conventions and chapter meetings | Advocacy, business skills and peer contact across all types of travel |
| Consortium and host-agency conferences | The annual meetings of the groups many agencies belong to | The most focused supplier time for members, often with pre-booked appointments |
| Supplier roadshows | Cruise line and tourism board tours that visit several cities | Product training close to home, with little travel cost |
We do not list dates: organizers set them and occasionally change venues. Always take dates and entry rules from the official site.
How to Judge Whether a Show Is Worth It
- Who exhibits? Read last year’s exhibitor list. If your top cruise lines are not there, think twice.
- Who attends? Some shows are mostly suppliers selling to each other. You want buyers like you to be welcome.
- Is there a meeting system? Pre-scheduled appointments turn a crowded hall into a productive day.
- What does it really cost? Registration, travel, hotel and the days you are not selling. Count all of them.
- What will you do differently afterwards? If you cannot answer, the show is probably a holiday.
Getting the Most From a Trade Day
Go in with a short list of suppliers you already sell, and another of suppliers you are curious about. For each one, prepare two questions: what support does the company give agents (training, co-op marketing, sales materials), and what is new that your clients will ask about? Write the answers down with the name of the person you spoke to, so your follow-up email is specific.
Leave gaps in your schedule. Some of the best conversations happen in coffee queues and seminar rooms, not at stands. And attend at least one education session outside your comfort zone; a talk on expedition ships or accessible travel can open a new niche.
When you get home, the work continues on our networking page and in the follow-up plan on our leads page.
Trade Show Questions
Can a home-based agent attend trade-only days?
Usually, yes, if you can show that you work in travel. Each organizer sets its own proof rules, so check the registration page before you book a flight.
Are the biggest shows the best ones for cruise sellers?
Not necessarily. The global fairs are huge and broad. A smaller cruise-focused or consortium event may give you more useful time with the lines you actually sell.
Should I go to an international show if I only sell to Americans?
Only with a purpose, such as meeting European river or tour partners you already sell. Otherwise, regional and cruise-specific events tend to pay back faster.
Selling Cruises? We Can Help Behind the Scenes
Travelers you meet at shows can request a quote from our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise any time. Free for them, and handled personally.
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