Industry leaders and top cruise line executives speaking at the event's conference  focussed on the growing importance and massive potential of China and the wider Asian markets. The programme outlines the 2012 conference programme and speaker list.

Wednesday 26 September

Afternoon sessions

1400 – 1600hrs
Cruise Procurement and Supply in Asia Seminar
Supplying cruise lines is an attractive prospect for manufacturers and distributors
alike as cruise ships and cruise passengers consume products in large quantities.

Designed for those with the ambition to supply cruise lines, this session will outline the cruise lines’ requirements in terms of quantity, quality and delivery; as well as the qualities they look for in a supply partner.

Participants will include:
David Ang, Regional Director, Cruise Asia Pacific, UTi Worldwide (S) Pte Ltd
Michael Jones, Vice President, Supply Chain Management, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd
John Meszaros, Vice President - Supply Chain Management, Carnival Corporation & Plc
Sam Song, General Manager, Shanghai Port Shipping Services (Shanghai) Co., Ltd
Kari Virtanen, Vice President Sourcing & Procurement, China Corporate, STX Europe AS Shanghai
Jeffery Yoon, Senior Vice President – Cruise Operations, Star Cruises

1615 – 1800hrs
Terminal Operation and Passenger Handling
As cruise passenger numbers continue to rise across Asia, terminal operations and passenger handling becomes increasingly important to the passengers’ experience. This session will take stock of the current services offered by ports, upcoming projects and the focus points for future expansion and development.

Participants will include:
Figen Ayan, Marketing Director, Global Ports Holding (GPH), & Board Member, MedCruise
Mark H. Ittel, Partner/Vice President, Ports and Maritine, Bermello, Ajamil & Partners, Inc
Ho Chul Park, Marketing Team Director, Busan Port Authority
John F. Tercek, Vice President, Commercial & New Business Development, Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited
Melvin Vu, CEO, SATS-Creuers Cruise Services Pte Ltd
Wang Chi, Chairman, China Ports & Harbours Association—Cruise Branch, & Chairman, Asian Cruise Terminal Operation Network (ACTON).

Thursday 27 September

0900 – 0930hrs
Opening Ceremony
In the presence of ZHAO Wen, Vice Mayor, Shanghai Municipal People’s Government

Speakers from:
ZHUGE Yujie, President, Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG)

WU Qing, Mayor, Shanghai Municipal Hongkou District People’s Government
SUN Jianping, Chairman, Shanghai Municipal Transport and Port Authority 

DAO Shuming, Chairman, Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration
Jointly established by Shanghai Maritime University, Seatrade and SIPG

Morning session
0930 – 1130hrs

Welcome:
Chris Hayman, Chairman, Seatrade Communications Limited

Launch of the Inaugural Cruise EMBA Programme by Asian Cruise Academy Jointly established by Shanghai Maritime University, Seatrade and SIPG

Speakers:
Dr Linchi QU, Dean, Shanghai Maritime University
Chris HAYMAN, Chairman, Seatrade Communications Limited

Keynote address:
Zinan Liu, Chairman, Asia Cruise Association (ACA), & Managing Director, China & Asia Pacific, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd

The State of the Cruise Industry in Asia
Asia continues to grow in significance for the cruise industry as its value as a source market and popularity as a destination both rise steadily year on year. In this keynote session the panel will assess the growth of the Asian market so far and take a close look at the future opportunities and challenges facing the cruise industry in Asia.

Participants will include:
Lisa Bauer, EVP, Global Sales & Marketing, Royal Caribbean International
William Ng, Chief Operating Officer, Star Cruises
Ann Sherry, AO, Chief Executive Officer, Carnival Australia

Afternoon sessions

1500 – 1615hrs
New Asian Itineraries and Destinations
Asia offers a breathtaking range of attractions and activities to attract cruise consumers from all segments of the market from contemporary brands to premium and luxury brands. Infrastructure investment continues to unlock extra capacity at established ports and the potential for calls in new destinations. This session will look at the range of itineraries on offer, itineraries of the future and the factors driving cruise line deployment.

Introduction:
Mari Elka Pangestu, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, The Republic of Indonesia
Philip W. H. Yung, Commissioner for Tourism, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Participants will include:
Ted Blamey, Principal, Chart Management Consultants
Bruce Krumrine, Vice President, Shore Operations – Europe & Exotics, Princess Cruises
Kelvin Tan, Regional Director, Asia Pacific, Royal Caribbean Cruises (Asia) PTE Ltd

1615 - 1730hrs
Unlocking the Potential of China and the Other Asian Source Markets
The emergence of Asian middle classes continues at a tremendous rate. With such large populations the potential rewards for capturing the market are huge. Industry leaders will discuss the challenge of increasing awareness of the cruise product in Asia and attracting passengers from China and across Asia.

Participants will include:
Buhdy Bok, Vice President Pacific Asia & China, Costa Crociere SpA
Gautam Chadha, Chief Executive, Tirun Travel Marketing
William Gibbons, Director, Passenger Shipping Association
Zinan Liu, Managing Director, China & Asia Pacific, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., & Chairman, Asia Cruise Association (ACA)
Steve Odell, President, Europe & Asia Pacific, Silversea Cruises Ltd
Christina Siaw, CEO, Singapore Cruise Centre
Erkunt Öner, CEO, Tura Turizm-Seamer Tours (panellist)

Friday 28 September

Morning sessions

0900 – 1015hrs
Focus on Asia’s New Entrants to the Cruise Business
Seeing the commercial potential of cruise holidays in Asia, the Asian cruise market has seen a number of new entrants in the past two years. This session will discuss the newly emerging brands, their individual offerings and the impact these new players will have on the region’s cruise industry; as well as consider what the future may hold for Asian start-ups.

Participants will include:
Gan Song Zhang, Director General, Zhoushan Municipal Tourism Committee
Xia Yu, Deputy Governor, Baoshan District People’s Government, Shanghai
Zhang Xiping, Vice District Mayor, Shanghai Municipal Hongkou District People’s Government
Andrea Zito, CEO, V.Ships Leisure SAM

1015 - 1200hrs
Shipbuilding and Refurbishment in Asia and the Role of Asian Yards
Europe is well established as the dominant force in cruise shipbuilding. What then is the significance of recent orders placed in Asia? Do Asian yards have the capacity and expertise to compete with the established European yards? The current state of Asian cruise shipbuilding and the industry outlook for new building; as well as the future for Asia’s role in ship refurbishment.

Participants will include:
Maurizio Cergol, Cruise Vessel Chief Designer, Head of Proposal Design & New Product Development, Merchant Ship Business Unit, Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani SpA
Raoul D. Jack, Principal Consultant, PFJ Maritime
Liu Xiaofeng, Manager, Engineering Services, FutureShip - a GL Company
Eero Mäkinen, SVP Marketing, STX Finland Oy

Afternoon sessions

1530 – 1715hrs
Operational Challenges for the Industry in Asia
This session will look at specific visa and immigration issues, operating costs, availability of terminal infrastructure in the Asia region. It will also discuss marine operations and the key issue of bunkering.

Participants will include:
Dickson Chin, General Manager, Wallem Shipagencies
Carles Domingo, General Manager, Creuers del Port de Barcelona S.A., & Director, Sats-Creuers Cruise Services Pte., Ltd – Singapore
Robert W. Guy, Managing Director – Singapore & Malaysia, Destination Asia
Laura Vlad, Regional Director Asia, Intercruises - Shoreside & Port Services
Ted Blamey, Principal, Chart Management Consultants (panellist)

1715 - 1800hrs
Asia’s River Cruise and River Boat Tourism
The rapid growth in popularity of river cruising worldwide is reflected in strong demand in Asia for river cruises and the popularity of Asia as a destination. This session will look at the outlook for the industry on the Yangtze and Asia’s other popular river destinations.

Participants will include:
Ted Blamey, Principal, Chart Management Consultants
James Pi, President, Victoria Cruises
Tom Antonucci, Sales Manager, Victoria Cruises

This conference programme may be subject to alterations and additions.