Seatrade Cruise Med will open its doors in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on September 16th and 17th. It is also celebrating its 30th anniversary alongside its long-standing partner, MedCruise. Both organizations began operations in 1996.
The event continues to bring together leading experts from the cruise industry, with more than 100 speakers. Over the two days, attendees will be able to participate in more than 25 sessions and access more than 20 hours of content.
One of the new additions to the group of experts who will share their knowledge and experience this year is Steffi Heinicke, SVP, Guest Experience & Onboard Revenue at AIDA Cruises. Heinicke will participate in the opening session, State of the Mediterranean Cruise Industry, moderated by Mary Bond, Group Director of Seatrade Cruise.
The executive will be part of a distinguished panel of industry leaders alongside Leonardo Massa, Vice President for Southern Europe of MSC Group's Cruise Division; Nikos Mertzanidis, Executive Director for Europe of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA); Theodora Riga, President of MedCruise; Samantha Stimpson, CEO of Fred Olsen Cruise Lines; and Chris Theophilides, CEO of Celestyal Cruises.
Presented by CLIA, the session The Destination Stewardship Compact: How Cruise, Ports and Cities Build Better Tourism Together will analyze how governments, destinations, ports and cruise companies can plan further in advance, work in a more coordinated way and reconcile growth with the priorities of local communities.
Charles “Bud” Darr, president and CEO of CLIA, will moderate the session, which will include José Manuel Sanabria, Deputy Minister of Tourism of the Government of the Canary Islands; Heino Nau, coordinator of the International Blue Economy of the European Commission; Carlos Rodrigues, Deputy Mayor of Funchal; and Jelka Tepšić, Deputy Director of the Port Authority of Dubrovnik.
Sponsored by MedCruise, the session 30 Years On… What Will Define the Next 30 Years of Med Cruising? will bring together Toby Biddick, Vice President of Worldwide Cruise Business at Abercrombie & Kent; Mary Bond, Group Director of Seatrade Cruise; Ana Karina Santini, Founder and CEO of AKS Advisory SRL; Anne-Marie Spinosi, Senior VP & Cruise Manager of MedCruise & Corsica Ports; and Stephen Xuereb, COO of Global Ports Holding.
The meeting will conclude with a discussion on how the Mediterranean has become one of the world's most successful cruise markets and how to ensure that the region remains one of the most attractive cruise destinations for the next three decades.
Representing the host port, Susana Gutiérrez, General Manager of Canary Islands Cruise Ports, Global Ports Holding, will participate in The Atlantic Advantage, along with Marcus Puttich, Director of Destinations at TUI Cruises; Richard Cooke, Senior Manager, Port Operations & Destination Engagement at Carnival Maritime; Nikos Mertzanidis, Executive Director, Europe at CLIA; André Velho Cabral, Cruise Manager of Portos dos Açores; and Luz Marina Espiau Moreno, member of the Board of Directors of MedCruise.
The session will analyze the growing role of the Atlantic in driving cruise growth, encouraging a greater presence of ships throughout the year, and strengthening its connections with the Mediterranean cruise ecosystem.
A total of 224 exhibitors will represent ports and destinations, associations, and tour operators from around the world. These include some of the most recognized names in the cruise industry and regular participants in the event, such as Cruise Arabia, Ports of Spain, MedCruise, Global Ports Holding, Cruise Italy, Caribbean Village, Cruise Europe, Cruise Britain, Cruise Baltic, Cruise Norway, and Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services.
The event will offer numerous networking opportunities throughout its two days. Activities will begin on Tuesday, September 15, with the inauguration of the new Las Palmas Cruise Port Terminal, during an evening organized by Las Palmas Cruise Port and Global Ports Holding at the terminal's facilities.
Prior to the official opening on Wednesday, September 16, the Commanders Club Lounge will host an exclusive breakfast for cruise line executives, sponsored by Essential Costa Rica.
The Caribbean Village, one of the event's highlights since 2004, will host the "A Taste of the Tropics" at booth 1B20. The event is sponsored by the Port Authority of Jamaica and Chukka Caribbean Adventures.
Among the authorities in attendance will be Zorisha Amena Hackett, Member of the Tobago Assembly, Secretary of Tourism, Antiquities and Creative Industries and Leader of Tobago Assembly Affairs; and Hon. Ian Gooding-Edghill, Minister of Tourism and International Transport of Barbados.
That same evening, the Seatrade Cruise Med Welcome Reception will take place, which will include the 20th edition of the Seatrade Cruise Awards, bringing together attendees to celebrate the closing of the first day of the event.
Seatrade Cruise Med will conclude on Thursday, September 17th with the Sail Away Party, which will be held at the Santa Catalina Terminal.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria offers Seatrade Cruise Med attendees a wide variety of beaches, museums, theaters, and a unique local culture and cuisine. During the event, Seatrade Cruise Med accreditation holders will have free access to the Poema del Mar Aquarium in Las Palmas.
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