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SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS
This issue of Travel Markets Insider focuses on last week’s Summit of the Americas and the global cruise industry, which is having its own gathering in Miami this week at Seatrade Cruise Global.
The travel retail industry basked in a surprisingly positive vibe at the Summit, with a strong contingent of visitors from both inside and outside the region. Event organizer IAADFS reports that more than 40% of nearly 900 registered attendees came from outside of North America.
Attendance was higher than expected (though a far cry from the industry’s heydays) and many exhibitors said that they had very good meetings, although the new format exhibition space got mixed reviews. The conference sessions were generally very good and the social gatherings were a real highpoint.
See TMI’s review in words and pictures on pages 1-3.
With the global cruise industry now coming together, TMI reports on the exciting new retail offer developed by Starboard and Celebrity Cruises for the new Celebrity Beyond, filled with first-at-sea products that encompass diversity, sustainability, destinations and luxury. See story on page 4.
Outside of the return of cruising, perhaps the biggest announcement in the channel is that Giora Israel, who has led global port and destination development at Carnival Corp for the past 14 years, is taking a new role. Ports and destinations are critically important to the retail side of the business, and Giora Israel has worked very closely with many of the major travel retail operators over the years.
Renata Ribeiro, currently SVP strategic operations and a highly respected member of its senior leadership team, will assume responsibilities for Carnival’s global port and destination development operations, effective June 1, 2022.
Israel, one of the cruising industry’s most respected, influential and innovative leaders, will remain active in providing strategic policy and operational guidance to Ribeiro and the leadership team. Full story on page 5.
In more news from the Carnival family, Carnival Freedom arrived to its new home in Port Canaveral on Friday, where it joined three of its sister ships.
See page 5 for more details.
