A Coruña, April 9, 2019. A Coruña will host the next edition of the Excellence Awards, organized by Cruises News Media Group, which have become one of the leading events in the cruise industry. This will be the first time the gala is held in an Atlantic port, recognizing the exponential development of the Port of A Coruña in this sector and the growth it has experienced over the last decade. The event is attended by approximately 300 people, from top executives of shipping companies to tour operators, shipping agents, representatives from ports and destinations, travel agents, specialized press, partners, professionals, business owners, and suppliers. It will take place in February 2020, as a result of the agreement signed by the Port Authority of A Coruña and Cruises News Media Group.
After twelve editions held in various Spanish ports, the most recent in Cartagena this past February, these awards have achieved great prestige and visibility, granting recognition in fifteen categories, including best Spanish port, best crew, entertainment, cruise line, ship, gastronomy, itinerary, and travel agency. The winners are chosen based on a large-scale survey of Spanish travel agents and cruise passengers, which lends special value to the results, as they represent the passengers' own assessments.
The selection of A Coruña as the first Atlantic port to host this gala is primarily due to its high-quality cruise destination and the international reputation it has gained by welcoming the most prestigious ships of major cruise lines. Improved services, combined with the commercial efforts of the Port Authority, have led to one of the most significant developments in the Spanish port system. While A Coruña received just over 50,000 passengers in 2009, a decade later this figure has grown to around 190,000 cruise passengers expected this year. This consolidates the Port's position as the leading port on the Cantabrian-Atlantic coast, boasting the highest number of port calls and passengers from Lisbon to the French border, surpassing other iconic ports in the sector.
With this investment, one of the largest ever made in the area of port-city relations, the Port Authority has consolidated cruise traffic and reduced the seasonality of tourism, with large passenger flows throughout the year, especially in spring and autumn, the two peak seasons in A Coruña. With numerous multi-port calls and dockings by the largest ships in today's fleets, the massive influx of tourists to the city has become a daily occurrence, generating a significant economic impact on the service sector.
Specifically, a delegation from the Port Authority is participating this week in Seatrade Miami, the most important international trade fair in the cruise industry, with the aim of renewing contacts and commercial ties with agents in the sector, in order to maintain the excellent position that has been achieved in the coming years.
Cruises News Media Group operates a diversified network within the cruise sector. One of its most important divisions is specialized media, publishing CruisesNews magazine, the eCruisesNews online newsletter, and special reports. Its events division organizes the Cruise Forum, the Excellence Awards, and the International Cruise Summit. It also has a services division that caters to cruise lines, port authorities, cities and destinations, cruise tour operators, travel agencies, and port services, aiming to strengthen the cruise industry in Spain.
