The International Cruise Summit, organized by Cruises News Media Group, will bring together the most relevant international professionals in the cruise industry for its ninth edition to discuss this key sector of tourism. The prestigious event will take place on November 27 and 28.
The sector continues to boom, with an order book of 112 new vessels until 2027. In 2020 we will see 22 new vessels, an incredible figure that represents practically 2 ships per month.
However, the industry faces challenges and stereotypes. The Summit will address, among many other topics, the extent to which cruise ships have caused overtourism in major cities, a claim that remains uncertain in many cases.
The industry will reiterate its commitment to the destinations and the importance of not addressing this issue with sensationalist bias. The visual perception of passengers disembarking at the port is concerning, as it clashes sharply with the less visible, daily reality of the flow of tourists received at an airport or train station.
On the other hand, the environmental challenge and the industry's commitment to a zero-emissions future will also be part of the debate.
Senior executives, international cruise line representatives, port authorities, and industry experts will be present at one of the world's most important cruise industry conferences. The ICS brings together all these stakeholders, along with companies interested in entering the industry, with the Summit acting as a facilitator for potential business partnerships.
The event will feature Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises, as guest of honor. Within the ICS talks section, Emre Sayin , president of Global Ports Holding Inc. , the world's largest port and port terminal operator, will also share his innovative vision for port and destination management. On the first day, the Summit will also include Marta Blanco, current President of CEOE International , who will discuss the economic and business importance of the sector within the national landscape.
During the two days, several round tables and presentations will address topics such as "The incipient transformation of the industry", "Gastronomy as a new axis of product marketing", "The vision, challenges and trends in shipbuilding" of current relevance, "Big Data: the new gold of cruise marketing", or "Sustainability in the tourist experience in ports and tourist destinations" among many other topics.
More than 350 delegates from around the world will attend this event at the Meliá Castilla hotel in Madrid, which will feature speakers from the international senior management of Pullmantur Cruises, Costa Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Carnival UK, Royal Caribbean, Silversea, TUI Cruises, Cruise & Maritime Voyages, Saga Cruises, Fred Olsen, Marella Cruises, Princess Cruises, Crystal Cruises, MSC Cruises, and Blue World Voyages.
In its commitment to corporate sustainability, there will be spaces reserved to address the management of mass tourism, the cycle and contribution of the cruise business to local economies, and the detailed analysis of new ship orders up to 2027.
In its international push to promote innovation applied to cruise tourism, the event features Tomas Tillberg Design International, pioneers in interior design, and will also include Blue World Voyages, a new cruise concept never before seen in the sector.
The ICS also returns with its successful Executive on Executive. In its second year, it will feature two top executives: Tine Nathalie Oelmann, Director of Destination Management and Operations at TUI Cruises , and Jacqui Nobile, Senior Manager of Destination Services and Operations at Marella Cruises. They will have a relaxed, unmoderated conversation about their experience, vision, and collaboration.
This ninth edition helps to enhance Spain's image as the second largest European cruise tourist destination, the fourth largest European source market, and positions Madrid as one of the best European destinations for meetings tourism, as the venue for major international congresses.
