Nominations are open for the 24th Annual CLIA Awards, the cruise industry's peak Australasian trade recognition program, Travel Weekly reports.

The opening of nominations marks the formal start of the annual cycle for Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the body that represents cruise lines and travel agents across the region. For the 24th consecutive year, the awards will recognise operators, agencies and individual consultants working in cruise distribution.

Why does this matter for travel sellers?

Awards programs run by trade bodies such as CLIA function as more than ceremony. Winning or placing in a CLIA award category is a marketing asset for agencies: it appears in consumer-facing promotions, supports consultant credibility in a sales channel that still leans heavily on human intermediaries, and signals supplier preference to cruise lines deciding where to direct preferred-partner benefits.

Cruise remains one of the most agent-dependent sectors in travel distribution. Recognition from the industry's peak body can therefore translate into tangible commercial positioning for nominated agencies and consultants.

The 24th edition confirms the longevity of the program, which has run every year since its inception through periods of disruption that included the industry-wide pause in cruising. Its continuation signals sustained engagement between CLIA, its line members and the retail network that sells their capacity.

What happens next?

Eligible members of the cruise trade can now submit nominations ahead of the judging and awards process that follows each cycle. CLIA typically announces finalists and winners at an industry event, where categories cover the breadth of the selling side of the business.

Agencies and consultants seeking nomination should act within the entry window, as submissions close ahead of the awards presentation later in the program year.