MedCruise News MedCruise, the key player for a September 2018 sustainable cruise business growth Issue 56 A message from MedCruise President Airam Diaz Pastor MedCruise News pg. 1-6 MedCruise celebrated with success its 52nd Port facilities & General Assembly in Malta; event that has Airam Diaz Destinations pg. 7-21 “established itself as one of the most Pastor important cruise events in the Mediterranean Challenges and and its adjoining seas. MedCruise members’ Solutions pg. 22-23 representatives came from 20 different countries and 3 continents to enjoy the beauty List of MedCruise of Valletta, the European Capital of Culture 2018. Members pg. 24 “Valletta Cruise Port, a founding member of MedCruise in 1996, hosted the 52nd edition of the MedCruise General Assembly, where more than 140 delegates from MedCruise ports and associate members, cruise lines executives, six Board of Directors meetings during the first international media journalists and local semester of 2018 and four Working Group authorities gathered in Malta to discuss the meetings: one dedicated to the measurement of latest trends and develop synergies towards the impact of the cruise activities on ports, cities sustainable cruise services. In addition, and destinations, which includes the analysis of members had the opportunity to hold B2B the region that represents the 15.8% of the cruise LNG facilities in cruise ports, and another one meetings to explain their latest developments to ships global deployment share. dedicated to promote the Med in the Asian the media and cruise lines attendees. “MedCruise will also be present at Seatrade market. Moreover, two new Working Groups “Our prestigious Association, as a key Cruise Med 2018, the main cruise event in were created during our last General Assembly member of the industry, is committed to the Europe, with a Pavilion of more than 600 Sq mtr and will be launched during this autumn to new opportunities and challenges that are to and by being the principal sponsor of the promote cruise activities in the Black Sea region come. We are willing to contribute during a exhibition. MedCruise member Port of Lisbon is and in North Africa. Golden Age of our industry that brings more delighted to welcome this major biennial cruise “Finally, it is important to highlight the capacity, requires new investments and needs event focused on the world's second largest several cruise industry conferences and events the collaboration between the stakeholders – cruise destination –the Mediterranean and its where MedCruise Directors and myself as ports, terminal operators, municipalities and adjoining seas. President are participating as speakers. cruise lines. “Port of Lisbon Authority will host more than Moreover, it is worth mentioning that we are “The evolution of the cruise industry over the 4.000 participants during the days of the actively involved in several European past decade not only concerns vessel size and exhibition and conference where exhibitors Commission Working Groups as well. green regulations, but also refers to the increase from all around the world come together, “All these initiatives and achievements are that MedCruise port members have experienced showcase their products, demonstrate exciting successful thanks to the MedCruise ports and –a 33% rise in cruise passengers. To continue to new innovations on the exhibition floor, discuss associate members commitment and boost cruise traffic, MedCruise plans to increase on the latest trends and topics affecting the engagement, to work together to face challenges and strengthen its partnerships with cruise port region, complemented by an exciting social with efforts and experience and an outstanding associations over the coming years. programme. willing to promote day-by-day MedCruise ports “MedCruise is currently in contact with “In addition, MedCruise will be present and and destinations.” different associations seeking for promotion will promote the and cooperation in issues of common interest. Mediterranean “A good example on this purpose is the Cruise ports during MedCruise and Cruise Lines International 2018 in many key Association Europe (CLIA Europe) Memorandum cruise-industry- of Understanding (MoU) signed last June in events such as the Brussels. Both organisations will work together 6th China to boost the cruise business in the International Cruise Mediterranean, Black Sea, Red Sea and near Summit (Qingdao), Atlantic. Under the new deal, MedCruise and Seatrade Cruise Asia- CLIA Europe will share statistics, studies and Pacific (Shanghai) reports of common interest on trends in the and International industry, shipbuilding and new technologies; Cruise Summit 2018 collaborate with professional development for (Madrid). MedCruise members; and create new studies “We have also had related to the cruise industry. several meetings “Through this agreement, we signify that we internally to develop want to build a stronger relationship between new strategies and ports and cruise lines which will help us both to discuss new actions. Members of the MedCruise Board of Directors with first MedCruise President Joe grow the contribution the cruise sector makes to We have organized Grioli (5th left) in Valletta during the GA Gala Dinner Bringing the Med Together 1 52nd MedCruise GA in MEDCRUISE NEWS Valletta xxx Aris Batsoulis, MedCruise SVP (left) and Capt. Vassilios Gazikas edCruise President Airam Diaz Pastor opened the 52nd MedCruise MGA attended by over 120 members and associates B2B meetings with cruise line executives It is my pleasure to welcome you all in Malta and celebrate together the 52nd “edition of the MedCruise General Assembly. This major cruise event is proudly hosted by MedCruise members Valletta Cruise Port and Global Ports Holding in Valletta; city that offers premier cruise opportunities and hosts the title of Maria Cano, MedCruise Marketing Director European Capital of Culture in 2018.” presenting the new Marketing Plan MedCruise General Assembly has established itself as a major cruise event in “the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas, bringing cruise ports and their partners Gala Dinner at the Mediterranean together with the invited guests –cruise line Conference Centre, La Valette Hall executives and international press representatives.” Stephen Xuereb, Chief Executive Officer, Valletta Cruise Port, welcoming participants to Valletta Panelists discuss co-operation between Walking tour of The Silent City of Mdina ports, destinations and cruise lines Our Association has grown to more than 100 members, among regular and “associate members, representing the majority of passenger movements and cruise calls in the second biggest region of the world, including the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Red Sea, Adriatic and Near Atlantic. MedCruise members welcomed almost 26 million cruise passenger movements and about 12,200 cruise Cristina de Gregori, MedCruise Projects calls in 2017; while 2018 forecast shows that this figure will increase up to 28 million.” Welcome reception at Hilton Malta Hotel Director, explaining WG Studies findings 2 #PortsTogether #WeAreSocial MEDCRUISE NEWS Maltese hosts: Stephen Xuereb CEO Over 120 delegates attended the 52nd Valletta Cruise Port and his team MedCruise GA The 52nd MedCruise General Assembly is a great opportunity for our members “to discuss how to achieve and further benefit from this growth. In this edition we are proud to present 13 cruise lines executives and a total of 7 international press representatives as wells as an esteemed participation of more than 140 attendees. Our regular and associate Trends in the Med session, moderated members will have the opportunity to by Kristijan Pavić , MedCruise Honorary Gala Dinner at the Mediterranean develop networking with every cruise line President Conference Centre, La Valette Hall executive and international press representative during the social events, and share all their expertise and knowledge during the B2B meetings and plenary sessions.” #52MedCruiseGA #PortsTogether #WeAreSocial A boat ride to the Blue Grotto Valletta Cruise technical port visit Vintage buses took delegates to the Farewell Dinner B2B meetings with cruise line executives Bringing the Med Together 3 MedCruise Diary 2018 MedCruise joins Seatrade Cruise Seatrade Cruise Med 2018, Lisbon Global 2018 event MEDCRUISE NEWS 19-20 September Report, covering in detail the cruise activities in MedCruise ports during 2017. “Cruise Activities in MedCruise ports: Statistics 2017” report is available to be 53rd MedCruise General Assembly, freely downloaded via this link. Lisbon MedCruise President was also among 21 September the conference speakers; during the first day of the event Diaz Pastor joined the other expert panelists discussing “The Future of European Cruising”. The highlights of Seatrade Cruise Global included a welcome reception organised at the MedCruise stand, an event attended by cruise professionals edCruise was actively present at the that provided excellent networking 2018 edition of Seatrade Cruise opportunities to its members. Global event, held 6-8 May 2018, in GreenPort Cruise & Congress 2018, M MedCruise would like to address a special Fort Lauderdale, US. The Association of Valencia thanks to its members that kindly sponsored Mediterranean Cruise Ports was present at the MedCruise reception, turning it into such 16 October the event with its own stand, dynamically a memorable and successful event. promoting cruise activities in the Med and Thanks to Delta Ebre Port, Costa Brava beyond.