Cruise Lines International (CLIA) hosted its second annual Port & Destination Summit in Hamburg, Germany, at Hamburg Messe, one day before the city hosts the Seatrade Europe Cruise Convention.
The Port & Destination Summit brought together more than 200 delegates from 28 countries, representing port authorities, destinations, shore excursion operators and port agents, and included nearly 50 cruise line executives.
Based on the success of last year’s Port and Destination Summit in Barcelona, Spain, the event was designed to create a meaningful dialogue on the port and destination community’s role to the growth of the global cruise industry, and included roundtable discussions, presentations and concurrent sessions. Participants also had multiple opportunities to network with industry leaders and influencers.
Keynote speakers included Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises and CLIA Europe Chairman, Adam Goldstein, President and COO of Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd. and CLIA Global Chairman, and Cindy D’Aoust, CLIA Acting CEO.
The key theme of the Summit was the importance for cruise lines, ports and destinations to continue working and growing together for both the sustainability and growth of the global cruise community.
Interactive Itinerary Planning Workshops were also added to the agenda to promote knowledge sharing, and a better understanding of the choices and complexities faced by cruise lines when considering their ports of call.
Valletta Cruise Port was represented by Stephen Xuereb, CEO and Mr. Joseph Zammit Tabona, Chairman.
