25-27 September 2007
Co-operation between Seatrade and Hamburg Messe und Congress for Seatrade Europe
SEATRADE EUROPE REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO HAMBURG
Seatrade, the UK publishing house and maritime events organiser, and Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH (HMC) have established a close co-operation agreement for the 2007 edition of Seatrade Europe – Cruise, Ferry, Rivercruise & SuperYacht Convention. Consequently, Hamburg will again be the venue for this region’s most significant maritime leisure event.
“In co-operation with HMC, we are set to develop and expand Seatrade Europe in both new and existing areas,” says Seatrade’s managing director, Christopher Hayman. “Products and services the exhibition will focus upon will include destinations and ports, food and beverage supply, hotel equipment and on-board supplies, shipbuilding, marine equipment, interiors and outfitting, technology and entertainment.”
“The close co-operation, which is the subject of the present agreement, means that we have secured the long-term presence of a very exciting conference and trade fair in Hamburg,” says Bernd Aufderheide, managing director of Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH. “That is a major win on points, for Hamburg, versus the competition in Europe and worldwide. HMC’s strategy is to do everything possible to re-position Hamburg as an exhibition and conference city.”
This co-operation will ensure that the expansion strategy is successful. In 2005, more than 2000 visitors from 62 countries registered for Seatrade Europe. Nearly 600 attended the conference sessions. These figures are set to be smashed at Seatrade Europe next year as the event will offer double the exhibition space. Many more exhibitors will have the opportunity to present their products and services to buyers at the newly refurbished CCH – Congress Center Hamburg.
Additionally, this expanding industry meeting point will last an extra day. The programme will be comprehensive and encompass not only the trade fair but also corresponding conference streams. “Factors surrounding northern Europe’s importance for the cruise, ferry and rivercruise industries, as well as the growing SuperYacht sector, will drive multiple conference sessions,” confirms Mr Hayman, “Senior industry figures will participate and there will be special emphasis on technical issues.”
The co-operation between Seatrade and HMC also strengthens the importance of the city of Hamburg as a developing cruise hub in northern Europe. During the last few years, Hamburg has become a popular turnaround destination. Whilst in 2005 47 calls with nearly 40,000 passengers were registered in Hamburg, this year 75 cruise ships with 66,000 passengers will call at the river Elbe’s metropolis. For 2007, more than 80 calls with 100,000 passengers have been declared.
Due to increased demand, Hamburg Cruise Center announced the creation of an additional terminal this year. As this will cover only short-term needs, in 2009 a brand new cruise centre, integrated with a modern hotel complex, will be opened. Hamburg Cruise Center has re-affirmed its commitment to Seatrade Europe, as the event’s principal sponsor, in order to watch the event expand in line with its own development. “Seatrade Europe is growing both in terms of visitors and exhibitors,” says Dirk Moldenhauer, the facility’s managing director. “It attracts increasing numbers of high level attendees and we look forward to more of this in 2007.”
Contact:
Bonum News + Marketing (Germany, Switzerland and Austria)
Annette Krüger
Tel: +49 40 69 79 63 80
Fax: +49 40 69 79 63 88
www.bonum.net
Seatrade (rest of the world)
Denise Turner
Tel: +44 1206 545121
Fax: +44 1206 545190
email: events@seatrade-global.com