A Coruña will once again become the epicenter of the cruise industry this year thanks to the Excellence Awards gala, for which our city has once again been designated as the official venue in recognition of the great growth of recent years, which will culminate this year with a record forecast of around 160 calls.
The celebration of this major international event in February 2020 at the Rosalía de Castro Theatre in A Coruña was precisely the last large-scale event in the sector held before the general lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent halt to cruise traffic. This activity has resumed strongly worldwide, and in the case of A Coruña, it has gained significant momentum, with 31 port calls between September and December 2021 and the expectation of surpassing this year the record set in 2017, when 120 port calls were recorded.
The Port of A Coruña has consolidated its position as the leading port in northern Spain in terms of berths and shines as one of the most attractive Atlantic destinations. For this reason, the organizers of this event wanted this major gathering of shipping companies, ports, operators, and other entities and companies in the sector to take place once again in our city, following the 2021 edition held last December in Las Palmas.
The gala will be held again at the Rosalía de Castro Theatre on June 29. That day marks the 145th anniversary of the founding of the Port Works Board, the origin of what is now the Port Authority.
The A Coruña edition of the Excellence Awards is sponsored by the Port Authority, the Xunta de Galicia (Regional Government of Galicia), and the A Coruña City Council through the Tourism Consortium, as well as State Ports and private sponsors. These are currently the only awards specializing in the cruise industry in Spain. Each year, they recognize the work of the cruise lines, as voted on by their customers, through a large-scale survey of cruise passengers from all companies. The awards are promoted and organized by CruisesNews Media Group, a Spanish company specializing in national and international promotion, communication, and marketing for the cruise sector. CruisesNews Media Group not only publishes several specialized magazines but also organizes other prominent events such as the International Cruise Summit, held in Madrid.
The Excellence Awards Gala is expected to draw around 250 attendees, including executives from major shipping companies, ports, the auxiliary industry, tourism services, travel agencies, tour operators, government agencies, the press, promotional organizations, and cruise passengers. After fourteen editions held in various Spanish ports, these awards have achieved considerable prestige and visibility, recognizing achievements in fifteen categories, including best Spanish port, best crew, entertainment, shipping company, ship, gastronomy, itinerary, and travel agency.
A Coruña's selection to host the 2022 gala is primarily due to its high-quality cruise destination and the international reputation it has gained by hosting the most prestigious ships of major cruise lines. Improved services, combined with the commercial efforts of the Port Authority and the operators themselves, have led to one of the most significant developments in the Spanish port system, achieving the highest number of port calls from Lisbon to the French border, surpassing even iconic ports in the sector.
