Members of Travel Village Group’s management and sales team attended the CLIA RiverView Conference in Vienna this month. The CLIA RiverView River Cruising Conference is a highly anticipated event for those in the river cruising industry. The event was held from March 12-14, 2023. It brought together industry professionals from around the world to discuss the latest trends, developments, and challenges in river cruising.
Vienna is the perfect location for this conference. It is known for its stunning architecture, rich history, and world-renowned music scene. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the city and take in its many attractions. This includes the famous Hofburg Palace, the Vienna State Opera, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
In addition to the cultural experiences of Vienna, attendees of the CLIA RiverView River Cruising Conference will have the opportunity to participate in other activities. This includes educational sessions, networking events, and panel discussions with industry experts and speakers. Topics that will be covered include sustainability in river cruising, the impact of technology on the industry, and the latest marketing strategies.
An exciting part of the conference were guided ship visits to explore some of the best ships in the industry. This included the AmaMagna, AmaViola, Riverside Mozart, TUI Maya, Avalon Envision, Scenic Jasper & nickoVISION. Not to mention the incredible shore excursions such as a visit to the Schönbrunn Palace and a charity run along the Danube river.
Here’s our teams highlights from the CLIA RiverView Conference:
For me, it was re-enforcing that there is a river cruise out there for everyone depending on budgets and that a river cruise is a perfect ‘city break’ style holiday. For more of a break, I would recommend starting off with the Danube and extending your stay in the city prior to departure. There are also some incredible deals for late bookings this summer, plus further afield destinations are coming back next year. Plus, always book through Rivercruising.co.uk as you speak to the experts who have first hand experienced the product.
Richard Cross – Group Commercial Manager
River cruises are incredible value for money in comparison to paying for separate city breaks. Travel on ships that drop you right in the heart of cities with flexibility to either ‘do your own thing’, on foot or using one of the bikes on board, or join the mostly included excursions with various degrees of pace. There are excellent facilities on board to choose from. Whether you chose to pamper yourself in one of the spas or join an art class. You can use the gym or take time for yourself to unwind, in many of the spaces on board…I cannot think of one reason why anyone with a love for travel would not enjoy a smooth cruise down one of the many rivers in Europe or further afield.
John Warr MBA – Group Managing Director
I would definitely reinforce the city break point! The cost day by day and getting the value for money is an amazing perk of a river cruise. Food, drinks, accommodation, range of tours, service and return travel all included! The choice of product is massive… and yes the cost varies by brand but the quality of food and service is second to none. In my opinion, TUI River Cruises had better food than in some top restaurants (that would cost more than a full day on a river cruise!). Destinations are the key to river cruising though… you aren’t going to experience a city or town in the same way as you would by river!
Lewis Johnston – Group E-Commerce Manager
What I love the most is the innovative and unique facilities & services that the river cruise lines are offering. For example, world-class wellness programmes, that include champagne yoga or small-group spinning classes, plus restaurant menus to compliment. Whether you’re on holiday to over-indulge or prefer to remain active; the choice is yours. The ships have been designed in a way to make the most out of their limited-space and deliver on the customer experience. Imagine a small boutique hotel but this one floats! There is plenty of public space to relax and enjoy the scenery; whether it be on top-deck, the main lounge or the small library/coffee area. The choice of accommodation available is fantastic, some with an outdoor balcony, some with a french-balcony… some that even have both.
Jess Nuttall – Group Marketing Manager
