Cruise industry
There is no doubt that the cruise industry is booming. More than eight million passengers passed through Spain in 2017.
Spain is the largest European cruise destination after Italy, and our ports are at the top of the world ranking. Spain has a good positioning among the source markets of USA, UK, Germany, the Nordic countries, Italy, France and Russia. There is a world fleet of more than 300 cruise ships and a forecast to build 90 more cruise ships by 2026.
Last year Melilla Port was visited by 1,224 cruise passengers. And it has the potential to grow still further. This potential for growth is our challenge for the future!
What is clear is the importance of port infrastructure for the development of the sector and the need to offer local tourism services adapted to the trends of the cruise market. The cruise lines themselves continue to bet on Spanish and European destinations and point out that the disparity of destinations within Spain is a new opportunity to increase passenger visits to the city of Melilla.
Objective
The aim of the Melilla Cruise Forum is to present the business opportunities that cruise traffic can bring and offer Melilla from the hand of cruise companies, shipping agents, shore excursions agents and cruise industry experts. This debate will focus on how the Port, auxiliary industry, destination and tourism services have been prepared to ensure the satisfaction of cruise lines and passengers while providing knowledge about this industry that stimulates the economies of cruise destinations and provides the keys to the growth of the industry.
The conference is designed for
MELILLA CRUISE CRUISE FORUM is an event aimed at professionals within the port sector, auxiliary industries, travel agencies, institutions related to tourism promotion, as well as hotel services, tourist guides, restaurants, museums, taxis, shops and all other services that can benefit from the arrival of cruise passengers in Melilla city.
Melilla and the cruise tourism
An industry for the future
CALL AND PROMOTE
Collaborate
REGISTRATION FORM
09:30h • OPENING SESSION
• José Llorca Ortega, President PORTS OF SPAIN
• Juan José Imbroda, President of the CITY OF MELILLA
• Miguel Marín Cobos, President MELILLA PORT AUTHORITY
10:00h • PRESENTATION: THE PORT OF MELILLA AND THE CRUISE TOURISM
• Luis José Ayala Navarro, Director MELILLA PORT AUTHORITY
10:30h • PRESENTATION: STATE OF THE WORLDWIDE AND SPANISH CRUISE INDUSTRY
• Emiliano González, President MSC CRUISES SPAIN representing CLIA (Cruise Line International Association)
10:45h • PRESENTATION: HOLLAND AMERICA GROUP
• Chris Martin, Port Operations Director HOLLAND AMERICA GROUP, SEABOURN and PRINCESS
11:00h • Coffee Break
11:30h • PRESENTATION: THE ROLE OF LAND OPERATORS IN THE CRUISE INDUSTRY - SHIP AGENT SERVICES AND SHORE EXCURSIONS
• Fátima Traikia, Shoreside Department BC TOURS SHORESIDE & PORT SERVICES
12:00h • PRESENTATION: DEVELOPING A CRUISE DESTINATION
• Luis de Carvalho, CEO BERMEJO AJAMIL & PARTNERS EUROPE
12.15h • PRESENTATION: PORT OF CARTAGENA: A SUCCESSFUL CASE STUDY
• Fernando Muñoz, Commercial Director CARTAGENA PORT AUTHORITY
12:30h • SESSION: CRUISE TOURISM, A YOUNG INDUSTRY WITH ENORMOUS POTENCIAL FOR GROWTH
• Moderator: Virginia López Valiente, CEO CRUISES NEWS MEDIA GROUP
• Emiliano González, President MSC CRUISES SPAIN
• Mario Sennacheribbo, CEO BC AGENCY
• Monica Georgiou, Operations Manager COLUMBIA CRUISE SERVICES
• Leire Azcuna, Senior Manager Itinerary Planning PULLMANTUR CRUISES
14:00h • Closing
Attendees are invited to a cocktail-lunch after the event.
Juan José ImbrodaPresidentCITY OF MELILLA
BIO
Virginia LópezCEOCRUISES NEWS MEDIA GROUPManaging Director at Melilla Cruise Forum
BIO
Virginia Lopez Valiente is the owner and CEO of Cruises News Media Group, a company dedicated to communication, marketing and promotion of the Cruise industry.
Cruises News Media Group edits the magazine Cruises News and organises annually the International Cruise Summit, the Cruise Excellence Awards, Cruise Forums and Cruise Trainings.
Virginia has spent most of her two-decade career leading departments of commercial, marketing and operations in international companies of various sectors such as transport, hospitality and consultancy.
Before founding Cruises News Media Group, she held various managerial posts in companies such as DHL, Panalpina Global Transport, Air Express International, Thomas International and IPS Consultants and was Director of Operations for Spain and Portugal at Hospitality Marketing Concepts, an American multinational of marketing and loyalty programs for luxury hotels and chains.
She has a degree in Business Administration, International Trade and Marketing and completed her executive program (PGD) in Marketing Management and Strategic Management at the British School of Management Sciences in London.
Virginia is also the publisher and Chief editor of Cruises News, the magazine.
Luis José Ayala NavarroDirectorMELILLA PORT AUTHORITY
BIO
Luis José Ayala Navarro es Ingeniero de Caminos, Canales y Puertos por la Universidad de Granada y ha cursado diversos estudios de postgrado: Master en Gestión y Planificación Portuaria e Intermodalidad por la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Universidad de Cádiz, Universidad de Oviedo y Universidad de A Coruña; y Experto Universitario en Teoría y Aplicación de Elementos Finitos en la Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales de la UNED.
Ha participado como ponente en varias jornadas del sector de puertos y costas, y presenciado numerosos congresos y foros especializados en logística, transporte marítimo y gestión de infraestructuras.
Su trayectoria profesional, desde sus inicios, ha estado ligada al ámbito portuario y, concretamente, al Puerto de Melilla desde 2008. Tras haber desempeñado en la Autoridad Portuaria el cargo como Jefe del Departamento de Explotación y Planificación, es desde febrero de 2017 Director General y Consejero de la Autoridad Portuaria de Melilla, Miembro del Consejo de Navegación y Puerto y Presidente del Comité de Servicios Portuarios. Además, es Presidente del Comité Consultivo de Protección.
Como Director de un Puerto de Interés General del Estado Español, ha colaborado en la consecución de importantes objetivos, alcanzándose unos resultados únicos en la historia del Puerto de Melilla, tanto económicos como en relación al crecimiento del tráfico de mercancías y pasajeros. Ha contribuido en el desarrollo de diversos instrumentos de planificación, entre ellos el primer Plan Estratégico para el Puerto de Melilla, que incluye la realización de la ampliación exterior del Puerto.
Mario SennacheribboCEOBC AGENCY
BIO
Mario Sennacheribbo was born in Palma de Mallorca. His Italian surname comes from the region of Piemonte where his grandfather was from.
Mario has been involved in the Tourism industry since he was a kid due to his father being working in one of the most important travel agencies in the Balearic Islands.
While he was studying his university degree in Chemistry, he travelled around Spain assisting the cruise ships for Viajes Formentor, his father’s company. When he finished his degree, he decided to work full time in Viajes Formentor. During this time, he did a Master course on Tourism Management (ESADE) and then he decided to expand the business and founded Baleares Consignatarios and Baleares Consignatarios Tours. Today he is the CEO for the group of companies under the name BC Agency.
Fernando MuñozCommercial DirectorCARTAGENA PORT AUTHORITY
BIO
Fátima TraikiaShoreside DepartmentBC TOURS SHORESIDE & PORT SERVICES
BIO
Leire AzcunaSenior Manager Itinerary PlanningPULLMANTUR CRUISES
BIO
Leire Azcuna manages Itinerary Planning for Americas and European routes. She is responsible for strategy, development, refinement and maintenance of the itinerary portfolio of Pullmantur Cruceros, a cruise line company that operates in Spain and Latam.
She is a key stakeholder to build the commercial strategy for each product and deliver solutions that will drive profitability improvement throughout a portfolio. Areas of focus include revenue enhancement, sourcing strategy, cost reduction, enhanced operational efficiency, and performance enhancement. Leire also supports the President & CEO in strategic initiatives. In this role, she assists VPs and Directors of all areas in the planning and monitoring of Company’s strategic projects.
Prior to joining Pullmantur Cruceros, Leire developed her career in the strategic consulting industry for The Boston Consulting Group. She executed strategic projects in Public Services, Consumer Goods and Industrial Goods practice areas. Assignments include, among others, Commercial due diligence, Go-to-market strategy, and Regulation.
Leire holds a Master Degree in Industrial Engineering by the University of Navarra, Spain.
José Llorca ortegaPresidentPORTS OF SPAIN
BIO
Miguel Marín CobosPresidentMELILLA PORT AUTHORITY
BIO
Emiliano GonzálezPresidentMSC CRUISES SPAIN
BIO
Emiliano González is the President of MSC Cruises in Spain and was born in Madrid. He studied "Director of Tourism Enterprises" at the Official School of Tourism in Madrid. His career has always been linked to the tourism sector beginning in 1967 in the historic CHAT Travel Agency , where he remained until 1980. Subsequently, he held various management positions at agencies such as Icab Travel, Atlanta Travel, Vincit, Mapfre, over a period of 22 years. Emiliano joined MSC Cruises in 2002 as its Commercial Director. In 2004, he became Managing Director of the company in Spain.
Luis de CarvalhoCEOBERMELLO AJAMIL & PARTNERS EUROPE
BIO
Luis the Carvalho is the CEO of Bermello Ajamil & Partners Europe (B&A Europe), the worldwide leader in port and destination development for cruise based in Copenhagen, Denmark.
B&A Europe is currently involved on several projects involving Northern European, Baltic Sea, Mediterranean, Atlantic, Indian Ocean and West African regions.
Luis started his career in 1986 with Premier Cruise Lines and RCCL in Miami. He then spent 12 years with Crystal Cruises, being their LA based Corporate Port Coordinator overseeing shore side operations globally while inspecting new ports and destinations.
From 2005 on he served as: National Director Cruise Operations in Ultramar Express / TUI Spain based in Barcelona, Director of Cruise Operations in Tumlare Corporation and Director of Cruise Operations in Kuoni Destination Management based in Copenhagen.
After gathering knowledge and experience from all angles of the industry he started his own consulting firm Consult DC in 2009 to better serve the global cruise community and in 2013 merged Consult DC with top US 200 architecture firm Bermello Ajamil & Partners Inc. to form B&A Europe.
Luis is also a regular organizer, key speaker and moderator of international conferences, cruise seminars and workshops.
In 2016 Luis de Carvalho won the Seatrade Supplier of the Year Award with Bermello Ajamil & Partners Europe.
Monica GeorgiouOperations ManagerCOLUMBIA CRUISE SERVICES
BIO
Experience:
20 years’ experience in the Maritime sector
8 years’ experience in the Cruise Industry
Positions:
1997 – 1998 → Invoice controller (Columbia Shipmanagement)
1998 – 2003 → Purchasing Officer (Columbia Shipmanagement)
2003 – 2007 → Assistant to Commercial Manager (Columbia Shipmanagement)
2007 – 2015 → Operator (Columbia Shipmanagement)
2015 – 2017 → Senior Operator (Columbia Cruise Services)
Jan 2018 – present → Operations Manager (Columbia Cruise Services)
Major responsibilities:
Itinerary planning (assisting Clients)
Itinerary reservations with Ports
Port cost budgeting – handling PDAs/FDAs
Bunkering
Chris MartinDirector Port OperationsHOLLAND AMERICA GROUP
BIO
Leire Azcuna manages Itinerary Planning for Americas and European routes. She is responsible for strategy, development, refinement and maintenance of the itinerary portfolio of Pullmantur Cruceros, a cruise line company that operates in Spain and Latam.
She is a key stakeholder to build the commercial strategy for each product and deliver solutions that will drive profitability improvement throughout a portfolio. Areas of focus include revenue enhancement, sourcing strategy, cost reduction, enhanced operational efficiency, and performance enhancement. Leire also supports the President & CEO in strategic initiatives. In this role, she assists VPs and Directors of all areas in the planning and monitoring of Company’s strategic projects.
Prior to joining Pullmantur Cruceros, Leire developed her career in the strategic consulting industry for The Boston Consulting Group. She executed strategic projects in Public Services, Consumer Goods and Industrial Goods practice areas. Assignments include, among others, Commercial due diligence, Go-to-market strategy, and Regulation.
Leire holds a Master Degree in Industrial Engineering by the University of Navarra, Spain.
Information
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More information and inquiries
CONTACT
Cruise Forums are organised at cruise destinations.
Educational events for acknowledging the economic impact of this industry and analyse the role of different players involved. The forums are supported by local public administrations and for cruise experts and cruise lines executives.
Organizers of the
Phone: +34 91 630 64 99
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