Countdown Begins: Seatrade Europe 2007 set to open its doors in less than two weeks!
12 September 2007
More exhibitors, leading conference speakers, rise in visitor numbers and an exciting social programme sees Seatrade Europe stamp its mark as the principal event for the cruise, ferry and rivercruise industries. With less than two weeks to the start of the event, this year’s edition is set to break all records. 250 exhibitors, from nearly 50 countries, have confirmed their exhibition requirements. The event has literally doubled in size compared to Seatrade Europe 2005.
For the fourth successive year Seatrade Europe returns to Hamburg, a key cruise destination in Northern Europe. Hamburg Cruise Center (HCC) has witnessed an above average rise in both cruise calls and passenger numbers. This trend is set to continue: with 89 cruise calls and 140,000 passengers expected in 2007, and around 140 calls and 300,000 passengers in 2010.
German cruise ports witness rise in passenger numbers
Not to be outdone by Hamburg, other German cruise ports are set to see their passenger numbers rise. The Columbus Cruise Center, Bremerhaven, is expecting 130,000 passengers in 2008 – an increase of 70 percent compared to 2007. The cruise port of Rostock-Warnemünde has recently been awarded the best turnaround port by Dream World Cruise Destination and expects 93 calls and 120,000 passengers this year. A new cruise terminal in Kiel, Ostseekai, with two berths has just been opened and a new cruise terminal in Ostpreußenkai started its operation in May.
Outside of Germany, one of the fastest growing cruise markets is the Baltic Sea. One exhibiting destination from this area, Stockholm, will see 290,000 passengers visit the Swedish capital by the end of the year. Passenger numbers have doubled in the past five years and a new cruise terminal will be opened in 2008 to facilitate this increase.
While almost three quarters of Seatrade Europe exhibitors are based in Europe, more non-European organisations will be participating than ever before, giving the event a distinctive international flavour. One of the highlights will be the Caribbean Village where the most important Caribbean ports and some of the most popular destinations will showcase their offerings.
Leading industry experts to take part in the conference
More than 50 speakers from around the world have confirmed their commitment to the conference and will discuss the latest trends and developments facing the industry. The conference will begin with the keynote session – ‘The European Cruise Dynamic’ where top executives Sebastian Ahrens, Managing Director Hapag Lloyd Cruises; Michael Thamm, President AIDA Cruises; Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO MSC Cruises; David Dingle, Chairman of the European Cruise Council and Managing Director Carnival UK and Susan Hooper, Senior Vice President International, Managing Director EMEA, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, will discuss Europe’s pivotal role in the expansion of the global cruise industry.
Market leaders from the river cruise and ferry industries will inform delegates about the latest developments in their segments in ‘Rivercruise: Europe and the Wider World’ and ‘The State of the Ferry industry in North Europe’. Due to the current emphasis on environmental issues ‘The Green Technology Workshop’ is set to be one of the hot conference sessions. Additional topics include: ‘Hotels Afloat,’ ‘Finance for Passenger Vessels,’ ‘On-board Revenue Workshop’ and ‘Destination Europe.’
Running parallel to the conference will be the Cruise Agent Training Forum, a one-day training programme designed to increase travel agents' awareness of the cruise and rivercruise market. The training is free of charge and is suitable for new and experienced travel agents. More information and online registration can be found at www.cruiseagenttrainingforum.com.
Seatrade Insider Cruise Awards to be presented on 25 September
The inaugural presentation of the Seatrade Insider Cruise Awards, principal sponsor Fidelio Cruise, will take place at the Seatrade Europe party on 25 September. An award will be presented in each of the following categories: port of the year, destination of the year, supplier of the year, environmental initiative (sponsored by Port of Dover), innovation in food and beverage/ hotel operations, sea-going employee of the year and Seatrade European cruise personality of the year. More details about the Seatrade Insider Cruise Awards are available at www.cruise-community.com.
Seatrade Europe is open on 25 and 26 September from 1000 to 1800 and on 27 September from 1000 to 1400. Entrance is for trade visitors only.
Seatrade Europe is sponsored by: Hamburg Cruise Center – principal sponsor, ABS, AIDA Cruises, Deerberg Systems, Hobart, Lloyd’s Register and SeaConsult.
Press Contacts:
Seatrade
Contact: Denise Turner
Phone: +44 (0)1206 545121
Fax: +44 (0)1206 5451290
Email: dturner@seatrade-global.com
www.seatrade-europe.com
Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH
Contact: Uta Westermann
Phone: +49 (0)40 35 69 2444
Fax: +49 (0)40 35 69 2180
Email: uta.westermann@hamburg-messe.de
www.hamburg-messe.com
BONUM news + marketing
Contact: Annette Krüger, Behrend Oldenburg
Phone: +49 (0)40 69 79 63 80
Fax: +49 (0)40 69 79 63 88
Email: info@bonum.net
Internet: www.bonum.net