The highly anticipated annual event “Protagonisti del Mare” celebrates its 22nd edition this year with Costa Cruises’ top travel partners from around the world. The event will take place aboard the Costa Diadema, Queen of the Mediterranean, with approximately 1,500 travel agents from Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa. For the Spanish market, the cruise will include stops in Naples (February 26), Ajaccio (February 27), Savona (February 28), Marseille (March 1), and Barcelona (March 2).
Protagonisti del Mare includes award ceremonies, presentations of the new Costa 2016/17 catalog, and meetings with the cruise line's Sales and Marketing team. Travelers will also have the opportunity to experience the new flagship, the Costa Diadema, an ambassador of the best of Italy, offering fantastic regional cuisine, wines, and appetizers. A wide selection of activities is planned, including parties, shows, and exciting shore excursions.
“We are delighted to welcome our best partners aboard the Costa Diadema. Our flagship is the best expression of our new positioning, based on the concept of The Best of Italy,” explained Neil Palomba, President of Costa Cruises. “It exudes the warm atmosphere of Italian hospitality and a true Italian holiday, experienced through delicious cuisine and select wines, and with a unique shopping experience thanks to a wide selection of renowned Italian brands. Italy is the country where Costa was born, and we are focusing on the very best it has to offer: passion, style, quality, and hospitality.”
Norbert Stiekema, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Costa Cruises , stated, “ Protagonisti del Mare is our most important event, where we celebrate the results achieved by our key travel partners and share our strategies for future growth with them .” Stiekema added , “ We have some news to share this year, confirming our investments to consolidate Costa’s brand leadership in Europe: the new 2016/17 catalog, the new neoCollection catalog, and the reorganization of the Sales and Marketing team .”
During Protagonisti del Mare, awards will be presented to travel partners who achieved the best results in 2014. The sophisticated ambiance of the Emerald Theatre at the Costa Diadema will provide the backdrop for the gala evenings and a fitting stage for the show, hosted by Miss Italy 2014, Cristina Chiabotto, and featuring senior company executives and Costa's global sales force. Winners will be presented with commemorative trophies: the golden dolphin in the shape of Costa's "C" (the dolphin being the symbol of Protagonisti del Mare), specially designed for the event.
In addition, travel agents will be able to see a preview of Costa's main new offerings for the 2015-2017 seasons, which will reinforce the company's leading position.
During the cruise, several special activities will take place involving travel agents. By joining ViceVersa, they will be able to step into the crew's shoes and experience firsthand the excitement of being part of the onboard staff and serving customers.
Some travel agents will also have the opportunity to sample the offerings of various bars on the flagship, such as the Vinoteca, the Birreria, and the Bollicine Bar, alongside senior company executives, during a "Bar Hopping" experience. A genuine Italian aperitivo will be served on board, while other events will include a craft beer tasting with actor Fabio Fulco and spectacular theater productions. During the stop in Naples, the Club Restaurant will offer a special dinner for select travel partners, featuring a menu dedicated to the Campania region and including products from top Italian suppliers, such as aperitivo from Cantine Ferrari, Barilla pasta, chocolate pralines from Guido Gobino, setteveli from Luigi Biasetto, and Illy espresso coffee.
In addition, the Costa Diadema will host fantastic parties, such as La Notte Bianca, during which the ship will be dressed in white, or La Notte in Maschera.
Finally, travel agents will have the opportunity to discover the new type of shore excursions offered by the flagship, during stops in Naples, Ajaccio, Savona, Marseille and Barcelona.
