We are delighted to announce the conference programme and confirmed speakers for the 2013 Seatrade Europe Cruise and River Cruise Convention.

Confirmed Speakers

Holger Altvater Global Head of Hotel Logistics, Kuehne + Nagel Management AG
Robert Ashdown Secretary General, CLIA Europe
Francesco Balbi Environmental Coordinator, MSC Cruises
David Dingle CEO, Carnival UK
Marco Digioia Director of Government Affairs, CLIA Europe
Helge H. Grammerstorf Managing Director, SeaConsult HAM GmbH
Dirk Helsig Corporate Executive Chef, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Tony Heuer President, Fidelio Cruise Software GmbH
Bo Larsen Director, Cruise Baltic & Cruise Copenhagen Network
Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio Chairman, CLIA Europe, and Chairman, Silversea Cruises
Rüdiger Pallentin Managing Director, Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven AG
Neil Palomba Corporate Operating Officer, MSC Cruises, and Chair, CLIA Europe’s Ports and Infrastructure Sub-Committee
Dominic Paul Vice President & Group MD, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises & Azamara Club Cruises, and Managing Director, RCL Cruises Limited
Tom Strang SVP, Maritime Development & Compliance, Costa Cruises and Chair, Environment Sub-committee, CLIA Europe
Michael Ungerer President, AIDA Cruises
Pierfrancesco Vago CEO, MSC Cruises
Richard Vogel CEO, TUI Cruises GmbH
Giorgio Zagami Corporate Procurement & Logistics Manager, MSC Cruises

Conference Programme

Tuesday 24 September:

Morning session: 0930-1130 hrs

State of the Cruise Industry in Europe
Europe continues to grow both as a destination and as a source market. This opening session will assess Europe's cruise industry, now and in the future, focusing on trends, opportunities and challenges. Projected growth, future deployment, economic benefit and booking patterns will be discussed as will the impact of outside factors such as the economic crisis and new, tighter regulations.

Afternoon sessions: 1430-1600 hrs (running concurrently)

Europe's River Cruise Industry
A plethora of new ships, expanding itineraries, longer seasons and consolidation are shaping today's European river cruise sector, which is enjoying strong demand from passengers sourced from within Europe and beyond. This session provides an opportunity to study factors driving the market now and in the future including the orderbook, river network, sourcing, refurbishments and seasonality.

The Cruise Line-Port Interface: Evolving Needs
As new environmental regulations take effect and the cruise business grows, cruise lines and ports/destinations are facing a new set of challenges. This session will look at areas of common interest such as waste reception facilities in ports, shoreside power, immigration and sustainability and study the way forward for both parties.

Wednesday 25 September:

Morning sessions: 0930-1130 hrs (running concurrently)

Design and Direction: Shipbuilding and Refurbishment
As the cruise industry continues its expansion plans, with 20 new ocean-going ships launching in the next four years, this session looks at the guiding principles of new designs and processes for cruise ships under construction and undergoing refurbishment at European shipyards. The panel will discuss how these design ideas are being developed, implemented and in what direction they will travel. It also provides an opportunity to discuss how cruise lines, designers, architects, suppliers and shipbuilders are achieving their goals in areas of cost control and energy efficiency management.

F&B and Hotel: Procurement and Supply in Europe
Supplying cruise lines is an attractive prospect for manufacturers and distributors alike as cruise ships and cruise passengers consume products in large quantities. For those with the ambition to supply cruise lines, this session will outline the cruise lines’ requirements in terms of quantity, quality and delivery; and for those established suppliers a look at trends and new directions in onboard F&B and hotel operations. Catering for specific dietary requirements will also be one of the topics that will be covered in this session as well as how contemporary taste in terms of dining and onboard entertainment is becoming more of an influence.

Afternoon session: 1430-1600 hrs

gmec Cruise: Environmental Advances in Cruise Ship Technology
Regional and global regulations aimed at conserving marine environments and reducing shipping’s emissions to air and sea continue to have a particular impact on the design and operation of cruise vessels across Europe. The panel will discuss the regulatory trends cruise lines and shipyards face operating in coastal waters and the technical and operational developments that will continue to improve the cruise industry’s environmental performance.

Cruise & River Cruise Ship Financing and Options for the Future
With a continuous stream of new ocean and river cruise vessels being built, and further new orders on the horizon, new players may appear to replace established structures. This session looks at requirements and options to finance these cruise vessels. Panelists will reflect on consequences of the financial crisis and the current lack of (bank) financing options. Furthermore, panelists will discuss new rules and procedures as well as the different methods used by the industry in terms of fundraising.

Thursday 26 September:

Morning sessions: 0930-1130 hrs (running concurrently)

Itineraries, Deployment Drivers & Regulations
This session will cover the factors influencing deployment and itinerary development, including regulation and operating economics. The panel will discuss home-port and inter-port strategies, access to ports by road, rail and air and positioning ships to open up new source markets.

The Changing Face of Onboard Revenue Generation
Technology as a way to drive onboard sales is taking its place beside the traditional revenue generators of beverages, casinos, shore excursions, shopping and photography. This session will drill into the driving forces behind onboard revenue generation and the multitude of choices now on offer.  The panel will also discuss potential future roles communications and technology can play in this area including ‘continuous’ client feedback and interaction pre, during and post voyages and the use of smartphones and tablets onboard.