3,000 participants and visitors expected at Seatrade Med

Barcelona-based media were briefed this morning on the forthcoming cruise convention by Andrew Williams, group director of UBM Live London, organiser of the event in collaboration with Seatrade Communications; Santiago García-Milà, deputy director for strategy and marketing of the Barcelona Port Authority; and Carla Salvadó, the port's chief of marketing and cruise.

All three highlighted the strong participation of a broad range of companies across the global cruise sector, including executives from the leading cruise lines, a number of who are participating in the conference sessions covering the state of the Med cruise industry, Upscale cruising, Logistics and Supply, Maximizing overnight and late stays in port, marketing, sales and distribution of the cruise product, ports, terminals and cruise line interface, Green ideas and inspirations and Itinerary and Shorex developments.

Underlining the broad local and regional support which led the organisers to bring this 10th biennial Seatrade Med to Spain for the first time, the event will be inaugurated by Barcelona's mayor, Xavier Trias, together with Felip Puig, councillor for business and employment of the Generalitat of Catalunya, the Catalan regional government.

Salvadò pointed out to Seatrade Insider that an interesting range of cruise vessels will be in port during Seatrade Med, including P&O's Arcadia and Costa’s Costa Favolosa on September 16, with the latter ship staying overnight, joined by Costa Luminosa and Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas.  On the 18th, Costa Mediterranea will arrive, as will Club Med 2 under sail, Silversea's Silver Cloud, and Royal Caribbean's mammoth Oasis of the Seas, making its first Mediterranean visit with a series of three sailings before, during and after Seatrade Med. The first 150 delegates to register for the conference by July 31 will go onboard Oasis for ship tour and lunch.

That day, as Salvadó noted, will provide an interesting contrast of maximum size, high luxury, and cruising under sail.