Sustainability and the environment high on Seatrade Europe’s agenda

Michael Thamm, Chairman, CLIA Europe and Group Chief Executive Officer, Costa Group and Carnival Asia will lead the keynote session of the opening day and focus on the significant role Europe’s integrated cruise community is playing in the industry and how it can continue to drive across multiple platforms whilst facing the demands of changing legislation and other global and localised challenges.

State of the European Cruise Industry debate

Thamm will then be joined on stage by a strong panel of industry personalities that include: Wybcke Meier, Chief Executive Officer, TUI Cruises GmbH; Gianni Onorato, CEO, MSC Cruises; Karl J. Pojer, Chief Executive Officer, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises; Gavin Smith, SVP of International, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and Capt. Michael McCarthy, Chairman, Cruise Europe. They will be discussing the State of the European Cruise Industry.

Greener Cruising

Another not to be missed session in the afternoon 'Greener Cruising'  is set for 14.00 to 15.20 on September 11, and will deliver a regulatory update, followed by practical case studies and discussion on challenges that need addressing.

Moderated by Esther Mallach, Partner, Arnecke Sibeth Dabelstein, the first part will see Ukko Metsola, VP Government Relations, Europe & Asia-Pacific, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., outline the regulatory update in Europe and provide an implementation of specific requirements for ports and ships.

This will be followed by an interactive focus on ports and ships’ commitment to achieve sustainability and the working practices of each stakeholder.

Besides Metsola, speakers include Claus Bødker, Director, Cruise Baltic; Michele Francioni, SVP cost efficiency & process improvement, MSC Cruises; Arantxa Garcia, Head of Sustainable Development, Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services; Hansjörg Kunze, VP Communication & Sustainability, AIDA Cruises; Kathleen Pessolano, Director, strategic partnerships, Global Sustainable Tourism Council, and Sacha Rougier, MD, Cruise Gate Hamburg.

Conference registration

To register for the Seatrade Europe conference click here. The event takes place from September 11-13 at Hamburg Messe and is co-located with the MARINE INTERIORS Cruise & Ferry Global Expo, powered by SMM.