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Cruise Shipping Miami highlights trends, hot topics, new cruise leaders

Cruise Shipping Miami highlights trends, hot topics, new cruise leaders
From how China and Cuba may transform cruising to cultivating millennials and staying ahead of public health issues, safety and energy efficiency, specialty cruising and connectivity, Cruise Shipping Miami's roster of panel discussions features experts speaking on trends and timely topics.

The 31st edition of Cruise Shipping Miami, organized by UBM Connect, is scheduled for March 16-19 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The conference, developed by Seatrade Communications, will open March 17 with the State of the Industry session, with participants to be announced in the coming weeks.

This year there are sessions devoted to new topics like 'Open Decks, Water Parks, Fitness & Spas: What's New in Active, Family and Wellness Areas' and 'In the Galley and Behind the Bar: The Latest Trends in Hotel Operations/Food and Beverage.'

Plus, new cruise line leaders, such as Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line, will be debuting as speakers at the industry's largest annual event.

Ashford will take part in 'The State of the Cruise Industry: North and South America,' one of the conference's four regional-focused sessions. His fellow panelists are new Celebrity Cruises president and ceo Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Princess Cruises president Jan Swartz and Roberto Fusaro, managing director, South America, MSC Cruises, and chairman, CLIA/ABREMAR (the Brazilian Cruise Association).

The other regional-focused sessions delve into 'The Future of the Caribbean and How it is Being Reshaped,' 'The State of the Cruise Industry: Europe' and 'The State of the Cruise Industry: Asia/Australasia—Will China Transform Cruising?'

Scheduled Asia/Australasia panelists include Alan Buckelew, chief operations officer, Carnival Corp. & plc; Dominic Paul, svp international, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises, and managing director, RCL Ltd.; Ann Sherry, ceo, Carnival Australia, and chairman, CLIA Southeast Asia; Gavin Smith, managing director, Royal Caribbean Cruises Australia, and chairman, CLIA Australasia; and Jan Swartz, president, Princess Cruises.

Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman, MSC Cruises, and chairman, CLIA Europe, will open the Europe-focused session with a keynote address. Panelists include Kyriakos 'Kerry' Anastassiadis, ceo, Louis Cruises; David Dingle, chairman, Carnival UK, and vice chairman, CLIA Europe; Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio, chairman, Silversea Cruises; Gianni Onorato, ceo, MSC Cruises; Michael Thamm, ceo, Costa Crociere; and Dominic Paul, svp international, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises, and managing director, RCL Ltd.

Speakers for the Caribbean panel are to be announced.

Further sessions will delve into enhanced safety measures at sea and in port; trends and challenges in marketing, sales and distribution; energy efficiency on board and ashore, the upscale cruise market, specialty cruising—opportunities and challenges in the expedition, coastal, inland and river cruise sectors; and staying ahead of public health issues.

Additional panels include how leaps in broadband connectivity may transform cruising, cultivating millennial and multigenerational markets, thinking outside the box on itineraries and shore excursions, and newbuilding and refurbishment.

Cruise Shipping Miami information is here, and conference sessions, with ongoing speaker updates, are outlined here.

 

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