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Australian luxury cruise line general sales agent Diane Patrick retiresAustralian luxury cruise line general sales agent Diane Patrick retires

After 50 years in the travel industry — the last 34 with Wiltrans International — Diane Patrick has decided to retire.

Helen Hutcheon, Australasia correspondent

July 22, 2021

1 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

‘Now is the right time,’ Patrick told Seatrade Cruise News.

‘While I have spent a lifetime travelling, I haven’t had the opportunity to immerse myself in the destinations I have visited.

Quality time

‘When travel gets back on an even keel, I plan to spend quality time in Italy, France and the UK.’

Just as the man who liked Remington razors so much he bought the company, Patrick, who joined Wiltrans in 1987, bought the company with her late husband James, in 2002.

Upmarket cruise lines

Over the years it has represented upmarket cruise lines like Silversea, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Crystal Cruises and Paul Gauguin Cruises in Australia and New Zealand.

Significant industry contribution

Patrick has made a significant contribution to the industry as a founding member and the second chairman of what is now the Cruise Lines International Association Australasia.

With great dignity, she accepted the posthumous award for ‘Contribution to the Australasian Cruise Industry’ on behalf of her husband at CLIA Australasia’s annual black-tie dinner in 2017.

About the Author

Helen Hutcheon

Australasia correspondent

Helen Hutcheon did her cadetship on a shipping magazine and worked in P&O’s Sydney office for seven years as a public relations journalist.

For 19 years she was deputy editor of Travel Week, which was Australia’s leading trade newspaper that covered major local and international industry events.

In 2008 the late legendary Rama Rebbapragada presented her with an award from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd ‘in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the cruising industry.’

In 2010 she won the Neil Frazer Award for ‘outstanding contribution to the cruise industry,’ elevating her to CLIA Australasia’s hall of fame.

She has been the Australasia correspondent for Seatrade Cruise Review since 1997 and for Seatrade Insider (now Seatrade Cruise News) since its launch in 2000.

 

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