CLIA Australasia pioneer Sarina Bratton steps down from board

'The idea to create our own version of CLIA came from Seatrade MD Christopher Hayman,’ Bratton, who was VP and GM Asia Pacific for Cunard at the time, said.

‘The cruise line representatives at that convention were enthusiastic and gave me their support,’ she said.

Phil Hoffmann’s support

One of the delegates was Phil Hoffmann, long-serving president of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents and a cruise specialist.

Hoffmann gave Bratton his support, telling other delegates: 'There is no point creating a demand for sea travel if the consultants are not ready to handle enquiries.’

The following year the International Cruise Council Australasia was registered.

Founding members were Cunard (represented by inaugural chairman Sarina Bratton), Carnival (represented by Ernie Skalsky), Royal Caribbean International (represented by Richard Cranmer), Holland America Line (represented by Jan Meagher), Crystal Cruises and Radisson (now Regent) Seven Seas Cruises (represented by Diane Patrick) and Seabourn Cruise Line (represented by Robert Broadley).

Travel agent training

‘Our prime objective from the outset was travel agent training,’ said Bratton, who went on to launch Norwegian Capricorn Line and Orion Expedition Cruises and is now global strategic advisor and honorary chairman Asia Pacific for Ponant.

She hired Karen Christensen and sent her to North America to work closely with CLIA to develop training modules for the Australian market.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Bratton went on to become a chairman of CLIA Australasia and has been admitted to its Hall of Fame.

Standard-bearer

‘Sarina has been a standard-bearer for the Australasian cruise industry in ways that will have a lasting legacy for our community,’ CLIA Australasia MD Joel Katz said.

‘She is a genuine pioneer of cruising in this part of the world,’ Katz said.