MIAMI BEACH, Fla., May 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Seatrade Cruise Global 2019 was a historic year, as the leading annual business-to-business event in cruise made its triumphant return to Miami Beach. With record-breaking numbers, the success of Seatrade 2019 serves as an undeniable representation of the cruise industry at large and its future growth.
By the numbers, Seatrade saw a 15% increase in registered attendees, a 19% growth in its conference program delegation and a 23% increase in registered cruise line representatives. This year’s event hosted more than 750 exhibitors, 190 of which were first-time exhibitors, showcasing products and services from around the world on the massive 150,000 square foot show floor, which was 19% larger than the 2018 floor in Fort Lauderdale.
The more than 13,000 registered attendees had access to over 60 experiential sessions and countless hours of networking and inspiration opportunities, including the highly anticipated State of the Global Cruise Industry keynote. With over 2,000 attendees, its largest audience to date, the keynote was moderated by BBC journalist Lucy Hockings and featured leaders from the world’s four largest cruise lines, including Norwegian Cruise Lines, Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Cruises and MSC Cruises.
Another top highlight at Seatrade 2019 was the first-ever all-female keynote panel titled The Rise of Female Leadership in the Cruise Industry. The lineup included Christine Duffy, President, Carnival Cruise Line; Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises; and Jan Swartz, President, Princess Cruises and Carnival Australia. Also new for Seatrade 2019 were an increased number of Seatrade Talks featuring intimate conversations with industry leaders, including Orlando Ashford, President, Holland America Line; Josh Leibowitz, Senior Vice President, Cunard North America and Chief Strategy Officer, Carnival Corporation & PLC; Barbara Muckermann, Chief Marketing Officer, Silversea Cruises; Gianni Onorato, CEO, MSC Cruises; and Daniel Skjeldam, CEO, Hurtigruten.
Over 300 registered media were onsite at Seatrade 2019, a 37% increase from 2018, covering the diverse number of newsworthy announcements made throughout the week including MSC Cruises’ unveiling details of its new multi-ship terminal at PortMiami and Windstar’s $250 million Star ship renovations. Several panels were also moderated by editors from top outlets, including CNBC, Condé Nast Traveler and Skift, who covered a variety of topics facing the industry, from safety and sustainability to luxury cruising and technology.
The impact of Seatrade’s growth this year extended well beyond the walls of the Miami Beach Convention Center. Events throughout Seatrade helped raise more than $20,000 for Seatrade Cruise Global’s nonprofit partners, Mercy Ships and the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association Charitable Foundation.
“The entire Seatrade Cruise Global 2019 team could not have asked for a more impactful homecoming to the cruise capital of the world, Miami Beach,” says Chiara Giorgi, Brand Director for Seatrade Cruise Global. “Our success at this year’s event is a testament to the growth within the cruise industry at large. We cannot wait to continue to evolve and elevate the Seatrade experience and look forward to our 2020 event.”
With the 2019 Seatrade marking the largest in the event’s 35-year history, Seatrade Cruise Global 2020 promises to be even bigger. Returning to the Miami Beach Convention Center, Seatrade 2020 will take place 20-23 April.
For more information, visit: https://seatradecruiseglobal.com
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About Seatrade Cruise Global
Seatrade Cruise Global 2020 is taking place 20-23 April 2020 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The exhibition is the leading annual global B2B event for the cruise industry. Bringing together buyers and suppliers for a four-day conference and three-day exhibition, the gathering draws more than 11,000 registered attendees, over 700 exhibiting companies from 113 countries and more than 300 international journalists to become the cruise industry’s epicenter of ideas, products and services. A who’s who of the industry participate in a comprehensive panel of discussions featuring experts, leaders and thought-makers including the State of the Global Cruise Industry Keynote with the chief executives of the world’s largest cruise companies. Seatrade is organized by UBM, which in June 2018 combined with Informa PLC to become a leading B2B information services group and the largest B2B Events organizer in the world. To learn more and for the latest news and information, visit www.ubm.com and www.informa.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Elsbeth Pratt / Halley Autry
Lou Hammond Group
843-647-6395 / 843-647-7358
elsbethp@louhammond.com / halleya@louhammond.com