Seatrade Europe 2007 breaks all records – more exhibitors, visitors and delegates
28 September 2007
Europe’s leading event for the cruise, ferry and rivercruise industries closed its doors yesterday after welcoming a record number of attendees: 3235. The organisers, Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH (HMC) and Seatrade Communications Ltd welcomed 270 exhibitors from over 50 countries, to present their products and services at the new, 7000 sqm exhibition hall of CCH – Congress Center Hamburg.
Over 80 percent of visitors appraised Seatrade Europe as a good or very good event and more than 68 percent stated that the convention had a decisive influence on purchasing and procurement decisions.
Seatrade Europe – a great success for all concerned
“The success of Seatrade Europe 2007 underlines our cooperation with HMC and Hamburg as the perfect location for the event”, said Christopher Hayman, Managing Director of Seatrade. “Europe is the epicentre and the fastest growing market in cruise shipping. So the future potential of Seatrade Europe is extraordinarily high.” Dirk Moldenhauer, General Manager of Hamburg Cruise Center is also optimistic: “This event has grown so fast, it’s unbelievable.” Moldenhauer believes that an increase of 40 to 50 percent for Seatrade Europe 2009 is possible.
HMC is also pleased with the development of the event: “Due to the cooperation with Seatrade we have expanded our ‘Maritime Cluster’, which already includes the world leading trade fair for ship building and marine technology SMM and the international boat show hanseboot. Seatrade Europe is the perfect extension and underlines our position as a leading exhibition and congress organiser in the maritime sector”, said Bernd Aufderheide, Chairman of management board of Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH.
Columbus Cruise Center Bremerhaven (CCCB) underlined the huge potential of the European cruise industry. During Seatrade Europe 2007 the Managing Director of CCCB, Veit Hürdler, announced that the cruise terminal at the river Weser expects 101 calls in 2008. That’s an increase of 40 percent compared to 2007. At the same time the number of passengers will increase by at least 70 percent up to 130,000.
While almost three quarters of exhibitors were based in European countries, more non-European organisations participated than ever before. This is seen as clear evidence of the growing importance of Europe’s source markets overseas. The Caribbean Village allowed eight ports to showcase their distinct offerings. “We have discovered Europe as a source market”, said Juli Burrows, head of the Caribbean Village. “Therefore Seatrade Europe is the perfect platform to showcase our products. We will return in 2009 with even more ports.”
Lu Haihu, Director General Chairman of the Shanghai International Port Group, also underlined his positive impression about the event. China’s boomtown exhibited at the event for the first time. “A lot of people are interested in Shanghai as a cruise destination. At Seatrade Europe we have made a lot of new contacts and have had many efficient discussions.”
High quality trade visitors
Antonius Heuer, General Manager of the technology company Fidelio Cruise, was impressed about the quality of the trade visitors: “Seatrade Europe was very efficient for us. We have met the right people and the organisation was excellent. We will be back in two years!”
One of Seatrade Europe’s key benefits is its ability to cover the full extent of the cruise sector, with the convention and exhibition covering both the cruise and rivercruise industries. Neptun Werft, a Rostock (Baltic Sea) based shipyard, which is well known for its innovative rivercruise ships, exhibited at Seatrade Europe for the fourth time. “We do not visit exhibitions often because the rivercruise industry is mostly under represented. But here, at Seatrade Europe, we can strengthen our good relationships with the rivercruise shipping companies”, said Neptun’s Managing Director Manfred Müller-Fahrenholz.
There was also very good feedback from exhibitors from the Hotel & Catering/Food & Beverage sectors. The market leader for china, flatware, catering equipment and table decoration, French Arc International, wanted to get in contact with cruise lines and had a very successful event. “I am sure that we will be back in 2009”, said Nicolaus Markus, Director Europe Catering. Also Hobart, a leading manufacturer of industrial dish washing technology, is an advocate of the event. “The quality of trade visitors is very high”, said Dennis Firchau, Business Unit Manager Global Marine of Hobart. “I am sure there is still great potential.”
Running alongside the exhibition was a three-tiered conference programme, examining the key issues facing the cruise, ferry and rivercruise industries. Over 50 leading industry speakers took part in the conference including Sebastian Ahrens, Managing Director, Hapag Lloyd Cruises; David Dingle, Chairman, European Cruise Council, and CEO, Carnival UK; Susan Hooper, Senior Vice President International and Managing Director, EMEA, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises; Michael Thamm, President AIDA Cruises and Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO, MSC Cruises.
Almost 150 travel agents took part in a two-day travel agent training programme designed to increase their awareness of the cruise and ferry industries. This great interest shows the enormous and growing importance of cruises in the European market.
Inaugural presentation of the Seatrade Insider Cruise Awards
Seven companies/personalities were awarded for their contributions to the cruise industry at the Seatrade Insider Cruise Awards, principal sponsor Fidelio Cruise. Hobart was awarded in the category of ‘Food & Beverage/Hotel Operations’, for its development of environmental friendly dishwashers, which save up to 50 percent of water. Cruise Baltic, an alliance of 19 destinations in the Baltic Sea, won ‘Destination of the Year’; Holland America Line in cooperation with the British environmental specialist Krystallon won ‘Environmental Initiative of the Year’ (sponsored by Port of Dover), ‘Supplier of the Year’ was awarded to the Turkish travel company Tura Turizm and ‘Port of the Year’ went to Puerto Costa Maya. John Heald, Senior Cruise Director of Carnival Cruise Lines, was recognised as ‘Sea-going Employee of the Year’. The final award, ‘Seatrade European Cruise Personality of the Year’ was presented to Bernard Meyer, Managing Partner of Papenburg’s Meyer Werft.
Seatrade Europe Cruise, Ferry and Rivercruise Convention will return to Hamburg in 2009 – 15-17 September.
Press Contacts:
Seatrade
Contact: Denise Turner
Phone: +44 (0)1206 545121
Fax: +44 (0)1206 5451290
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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
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