Annual Report 2015 2016

annual report 2015 2016 www.australiancruiseassociation.com Cover photo acknowledgements Destination NSW, Cruise Eden, Cruise Hunter and Tourism and Events Queensland Message from the Chair Dear Member, I am pleased to present the Annual Report for the Australian Cruise Association for the period 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016. This Report is prepared by the Management Committee in line with accepted business practices and governance principles adopted by the Committee. I am pleased to report that the organisation continues to provide strong leadership, promoting cruise sector growth and delivery of quality experiences, and delivering against clear objectives for its membership. Our strategies focus on delivering strong initiatives to further develop international passenger growth as well as maximising the opportunities the cruise industry presents on the domestic front as it continues to expand and develop into new markets. The extraordinary growth projections for the China/Asia market, along with further growth from traditional markets, are resulting in positive cruise line deployment decisions for Australia and our region. At our conference in Darwin last September, a proposal was put to the membership to consider changing our name from Cruise Down Under to Australian Cruise Association. The key reasons were that our previous name was often mistaken for a commercial “cruise offerings” entity rather than an Industry Association; that the “Down Under” colloquialism was outdated; and that our role as Australian industry body representing a broad range of members operating in the cruise sector was not clear. We have traded under the ACA banner with great success since September so, accordingly our membership will be formally asked to approve the change at a Special Meeting in Sydney in September. ACA maintains its preeminent position across the cruise industry, working with overseas owned international cruise lines, the tourism industry, port authorities and the Australian and State Governments to ensure the cruise industry continues to grow and deliver benefits equitably to each and every stakeholder. In the communications space I am able to advise that communications experts “Barking Owl” were engaged to craft and deliver stronger and broader messages to both trade and general media about opportunities surrounding the cruise industry. As a result we have achieved far greater awareness by the media and are more strongly positioned as the industry leader making comments on important issues affecting our membership. We have also increased the quantity and depth of our responses to important Government enquires and research activities. Our role is to clearly articulate the views and concerns of our membership. It is your Management Committee’s strong view that it is ACA who should advocate for our members’ strategic and commercial interests in the cruise industry in Australia. Other significant achievements during 2015-16 were included: - welcoming 15 new members leading to a record membership of 86 on 30 June - delivering a very successful ACA conference in Darwin including international and Australian keynote speakers - exhibiting at Seatrade Global Cruise in Fort Lauderdale - meeting with international cruise executives and key decision makers in Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles and Seattle. - publishing the 11th consecutive annual report into the economic benefits of the cruise industry in Australia. I wish to thank the members of the Management Committee for their diligence and commitment during the year and also thank their own organisations for their support. In conclusion I wish to extend my appreciation to our CEO, Jill Abel for her ongoing support and leadership to ACA. In a year of considerable change and growth Jill has performed outstandingly. Finally, I thank all of the ACA membership and look forward to meeting you in Sydney in September at our 20th anniversary Cruise Conference. Yours sincerely Stephen Bradford Chairman 30 June 2016 www.australiancruiseassociation.com 1 Australian Cruise Association is a membership based, non-profit association, dedicated to marketing Australia and the South Pacific region as an appealing and profitable destination for cruise ships. 2 annual report 2015 | 2016 contents Letter to Members 1 Vision, Mission and Objectives 5 Chief Executive Officer’s Report 6 Cruise Shipping Overview 8 Management Committee 18 Annual Operating Plan 22 Project Reports 24 Australian Cruise Association Conference 24 Seatrade Cruise Global 24 Economic Impact Study 25 About Australian Cruise Association 28 Record of Past Annual General Meetings and Conferences 30 Members’ Register 31 Acknowledgements 34 Annual Financial Report 35 Auditor’s Report 41 www.australiancruiseassociation.com 3 4 annual report 2015 | 2016 charter The Australian Cruise Association (ACA) is the co-operative marketing brand for cruise destinations and service providers to the cruise industry in Australia and the South Pacific. The Australian Cruise Association is a non-profit incorporated association formed in 1998. The Australian Cruise Association is a membership organisation comprising Australian ports, government tourism agencies, shipping agents, inbound tour operators and companies associated with the cruise shipping industry in Australia and the South Pacific. Vision Objectives Develop and grow Australia’s position To influence cruise and charter Position and market as a major world class base and operators to develop itineraries and/or Australia and the South appealing destination for cruise ships. base their cruise ship visits in the ACA Pacific region as a world region. To achieve this, ACA has set class. itself the following five key objectives: Mission • Market and promote the ACA region Leadership and Governance as an attractive and diverse cruise The Australian Cruise Association is destination for world class cruising. a peak body representing the cruise • Establish strategies to continue the shipping industry in Australia to realise recognition of ACA as the respected Growing Membership the region’s potential as one of the industry organisation connecting • Grow membership and provide world’s leading cruise destinations and representing the cruise industry. high value benefits and services to providing opportunities for ongoing members. economic, social and environmental Research and Insight sustainability. • Provide ACA members with useful, Stakeholder and accurate and meaningful research Partnership Development into the cruise sector. • Develop and maintain collaboration and affiliation with stakeholders and partners. www.australiancruiseassociation.com 5 chief executive officer’s report It has been a record year for our association, trading under our new name Australian Cruise Association. We closed the year with the highest number of members in the 23 year history of the association, welcoming 15 new members. We have continued to work with our Research and Insights Marketing members to deliver a balanced and The 2015 Conference was held ACA took our communications informative representation across in Darwin in September and was strategy to a new level and such a broad scope of stakeholders. sponsored by Tourism NT and Darwin engaged Sydney based Barking We further developed our industry Port. The conference, themed “Uniting Owl Communications to provide forums to provide greater product Australia’s Cruise Future”, attracted 121 assistance to deliver stronger and development and insights into delegates from Australia, New Zealand, broader messages to both the trade the cruise industry, presenting in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, United and consumer media about the Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Darwin, Kingdom and USA. opportunities surrounding the cruise Hobart and Brisbane. This program industry. As a result we have received will be expanded into regional There was a record number of far greater awareness in the media and destinations in 2016. international cruise line speakers have been more strongly positioned as including Claudius Docekal from Our key activities and achievements an industry leader making comment Crystal Cruises, Rich Pruitt from Royal for 2015-16 are as follows: on important issues on behalf of the Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Darius Mehta membership. We have also developed from Silversea, Michael Hackman from Leadership and Governance strong relationships with the media Genting HK Limited and Dwain Wall who have helped to champion There are numerous projects that from WorldCruise.cn. our messages promoting member ACA is contributing to in regards to services, discussing innovative ideas, infrastructure development, demand The conference addressed the reporting on major projects and studies and long term government unprecedented growth in the China highlighting industry growth and and stakeholder strategies. ACA market and how that will impact on opportunities. continues to provide a balanced our region, the rapid development of environmental technology driving a representation of all of its members ACA and its members hosted a new culture in shipping and considered for the overall development and number of familiarisation programs the opportunities for destination sustainability of the industry. throughout the year. It was our most experiences and local suppliers. This is being executed through active year in this area since our mega strong communication and education We delivered the 11th consecutive famil program in 2012. The conference programs, partnerships with cruise report into the economic impact

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