Cruise industry peers to discuss the future of cruising in the Mediterranean

LONDON, June 12, 2014 /CNW/ - We are delighted to announce that Pierfrancesco Vago - Chairman, CLIA Europe, and Executive Chairman, MSC Cruises and Stavros Hatzakos - President, MedCruise and General Manager, Piraeus Port Authority SA, will present keynote addresses at the Seatrade Med Cruise Convention, which takes place in Barcelona 16 - 18 September 2014 at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via Conference Centre. Mr Vago will be joined by Kerry Anastassiadis - CEO, Louis Cruises; David Dingle - CEO, Carnival UK; Adam Goldstein - President & COO at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and Michael Thamm - CEO, Costa Crociere SpA, who will be taking part in the opening "State of the Cruise Industry in the Mediterranean" session.

As well as discussing the ever increasing popularity of cruising in the world's second most visited cruise destination, participants will also consider the challenging conditions in the southern European source markets. They will likewise highlight the key factors influencing the future of the cruise market, as well as major challenges the cruise ports for the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas must brace themselves for.

The future of the Mediterranean as a top cruise destination continues to look very healthy, with nearly 1 out of 5 choosing a cruise in the Mediterranean. This further cements the economic importance of cruise to the Mediterranean and will follow the success of the previous event in 2012.

Chris Hayman, chairman of Seatrade Communications, said, "As one of the world's most sought after destinations, the Mediterranean is attracting significant new deployments from the cruise industry backed by a growing investment programme. This year's Seatrade Med in Barcelona will provide an excellent opportunity to focus on the exciting opportunities ahead for the region and on the challenges which these opportunities represent if their full potential is to be achieved."

Now on its 10th edition, Seatrade Med remains the only event of its kind in and for the region.

Additional news and information about Seatrade Med are available at cruiseshippingevents.com/med. Find Seatrade Med on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

The Seatrade Med Cruise Convention is owned and organised by UBM in partnership with Seatrade and in association with the Port of Barcelona.

Editor – Nina Marston at Seatrade, Tel [phone] or email [email protected]

Complimentary press registration is available to editors, writers and print/broadcast reporters intending to report on the event. Visit cruiseshippingevents.com/med/press to book your place.

About Seatrade Med ?The Seatrade Med Cruise Convention, the major biennial cruise event focused on the world's second largest cruise destination – the Mediterranean, will gather in Barcelona, Spain from September 16-18, 2014 at Fira de Barcelona Gran Via Conference Centre. Owned and organized by UBM Live in partnership with Seatrade Communications Ltd, Seatrade Med is Europe's most prestigious cruise event, welcoming over 4,000 attendees and 300 exhibiting suppliers and service providers to the Mediterranean cruise market. Part of UBM Live's growing Cruise Shipping Portfolio, Seatrade Med features a comprehensive conference featuring high-profile speakers, an exhibition, a travel agent training component, and valuable networking events.

About UBM Live ?UBM Live connects people and creates opportunities for companies across five continents to develop new business, meet customers, launch new products, promote their brands and expand their markets. Through premier brands such as Routes, CPhI, IFSEC, TFM&A, Cruise Shipping Miami, the Concrete Show and many others, UBM Live exhibitions, conferences, awards programs, publications, websites and training and certification programs are an integral part of the marketing plans of companies across more than 20 industry sectors.

About Seatrade ?Established 40 years ago, Seatrade is a leader in cruise and maritime publications, conferences and exhibitions, training, awards and other special projects. Regular events include international trade exhibitions and conferences across all maritime sectors, management training courses for shipping professionals, training seminars for travel agents and award schemes, including the Seatrade Insider Cruise Awards. Seatrade publications include magazines, supplements and yearbooks, whilst Seatrade Insider provides daily cruise news online at seatrade-insider.com.

SOURCE: Seatrade Med