5 June 2007
The Culinary revolution - booming cruise market offers endless opportunities for the Hotel and Catering/Food and Beverage industries
Dining is the single most talked about and written about aspect of the cruise experience. From pizza to sushi, ‘spa’ menus to five course meals passengers have come to expect choice, excellent presentation and high quality food that will rival any first class, shore based restaurant. Cruise lines must cater for critical consumers with much higher expectations.
Food and beverage suppliers cannot fail to take note of the endless opportunities that cruise and ferry lines can offer them. A cruise ship with a capacity of 2000 passengers has an average annual consumption of 59,000 lbs coffee, 955,000 bags tea, 1,5 Million fresh eggs, 13,000 lbs smoked salmon, 440,000 lbs potatoes and 141,600 toothpicks. Furthermore each day 1,000 bottles of wine and champagne, 2,600 bottles of beer and 3,000 cans of soft drinks are consumed. What’s more, all ships source their provisions from local suppliers, the revenue potential for a new supplier is huge.
As a result the organisers of Seatrade Europe – Cruise, Ferry and Rivercruise Convention, Seatrade and Hamburg Messe und Congress, have seen more exhibitors from the hotel and catering/food and beverage sectors confirming their attendance than ever before.
Exhibiting for the first time will be the market leader for industrial flushing technology, Hobart. Ralf Hübner, Managing Director of Hobart GmbH states: “Hobart is traditionally very active in the cruise market with solutions in flushing techniques, food preparation systems and food waste disposal. For this reason it is very important for us to meet our customers at Seatrade Europe.“
Accompanying them will be the Swiss hygiene specialist Bavirex, Thalwil. The company offers hygiene products for hospitals, airports, schools, hotels, restaurants and cruise lines. “Our products are developed for the specific requirements of the cruise industry. That’s why Seatrade Europe is a key event in our exhibition calendar. There we will have the possibility to have a creative dialogue with our customers in a very short time“, explains Kevin Klak, Managing Director of Bavirex.
Europe - the world leader in cruise ship construction and refurbishment
With more than 30 cruise ships currently on European shipyards orderbooks for delivery before 2010, the outfitting and furnishing of cabins, restaurants, bars and galleys is a huge consideration for the cruise lines. Additionally, numerous orders for new passengers ferries and rivercruise ships have been placed.
Extensive refurbishment projects and re-design programmes are also scheduled, thanks partly in response to a clear passenger demand for balconied cabins and more up-to-date dining and entertainment options. During 2005, the cruise industry spent an estimated 3.1 billion Euros for cruise construction and maintenance. This is expected to rise to 4.4 billion Euros in 2009.
Currently more than 170 ocean liners are between eight and ten years old and at this stage the majority of ships are dry-docked for a comprehensive face-lift. Not only will the interior be replaced, the design will be adapted to meet the latest trends and developments. Whether it’s cabin fitting, furniture, flooring, decoration, galley systems or cleaning equipment – cruise ships request the same interior of modern hotels. The same applies to features like spas, these are also being given more and better-located space to increase passenger appeal. A key part of the makeovers of Royal Caribbean’s International Sovereign of the Seas and Enhancement of the Seas was the enlargement of the spas on both ships.
Dedicated conference sessions for the Hotel and Catering/Food and Beverage sectors
The importance of the hotel and catering and food and beverage industries for cruise shipping will be underlined during the Seatrade Europe extensive conference programme. The “Hotels Afloat“ session will examine the particular challenges of operating a high quality and super efficient hotel and catering operation at sea, and the developments in technology and operating systems that are now available for cruise ships and ferry vessels.
Interest in Seatrade Europe 2007 sets new records
Seatrade Europe – Cruise, Ferry and Rivercruise Convention will take place between 25 and 27 September 2007, at CCH – Congress Center Hamburg, Germany. Four months before Seatrade Europe starts, 200 exhibitors have already confirmed their attendance (2005: 134 exhibitors). A comprehensive conference programme, more exhibitors and visitors than ever and an extensive social programme make this a key event in the maritime calendar. 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
Contact: Denise Turner
Phone: +44 (0)1206 545121
Fax: +44 (0)1206 545190
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
www.bonum.net