The ICS 2020 Madrid is one of the most strategic cruise events in Europe, bringing together professionals from all sectors of the industry.
Valenciaport moderates a panel of experts on “excursions and destinations in the new normal” with representatives from TUI Cruises, Trumpy Tours, Virgin Voyages, Marella Cruises or Excursions Ireland.
Valenciaport is present at the International Cruise Summit (ICS) Madrid 2020, the most important cruise event in Spain where national and international experts are analysing the challenges and solutions for the sector at a strategic time for the industry marked by the health emergency of the Covid-19. The Port of Valencia thus continues with its work of positioning and marketing as a safe cruise destination in front of the Covid-19 to receive tourists who want to get to know the city or destinations such as Sagunt, Xàtiva, Gandia.
To this end, Valenciaport is developing an important commercial task with a presence in the sector’s main events such as the ICS, Seatrade Cruise Virtual or the Cruise Forward organised by CLIA which have been held in recent months. To this end, the Port Authority of Valencia (PAV) has adapted its promotional tools to the virtual world of these events marked by the pandemic, with presentations and digital contents created for each event.
At the ICS Madrid 2020, Francesca Antonelli, head of marketing at Valenciaport, is in charge of moderating a panel of experts on how destinations, tour operators and shipping companies are facing new trends in excursions for cruise passengers in the new normality generated by the coronavirus pandemic. A panel featuring Jacqui Nobile, Senior Destination Services Operations Manager Marella Cruises; Federico Costa, CEO Trumpy Tours; Tine Oelmann, Director Destination Management & operations TUI Cruises; Niamh McCarthy, Managing Director Excursions Ireland; and Alexander Zeitz, Maganer of Employee & Customer Experience, Virgin Voyages.
The ICS is one of the most important cruise conferences in Europe, bringing together high level professionals from all sectors of the cruise industry. Valenciaport is one of the main sponsors of this event which analyses the present and future of the world industry in a year marked by the Covid-19.
Preparing for the new normal
The PAV is working in a coordinated way with all the agents of the cruise sector to prepare for the new normality and to receive the cruise passengers that arrive to the waters of Valencia when the different Administrations give the authorization for these operations. In addition to continuing its presence in the main promotional events, Valenciaport has organised a digital workshop “Preparing the Port and the destination in a coordinated way for the arrival of cruises” with Cruises News, and maintains permanent contact with shipping companies, tour operators and institutions to plan the arrival of tourists with experiences adapted to the new needs.
New passenger terminal
Among the new features of Valenciaport for the sector is the new Passenger Terminal of the Port of Valencia, an important investment in facilities that will occupy approximately 100,000 m2 and will be destined for both regular ferry lines and cruise ships. The PAV has qualified as excellent the offer presented by the shipping company Balèaria, together with Global Ports Holding, for the construction and exploitation of the future terminal.
The project guarantees that 100% of the electrical energy necessary for the operation of the terminal will be produced in the facilities themselves, and will be of renewable origin, will operate with zero contaminating emissions and will be committed to the circular economy. The project is also committed to a notable reduction in noise, as all the berthing lines will be technically equipped to provide electrical connection to the ships at berth, thus facilitating the stopping of their engines and emissions when they are visiting València.