Hamburg Cruise Days and Seatrade Europe to join forces: Hamburg is becoming the cruise liner industry's biggest stage

HAMBURG, Germany, March 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Europe's biggest public cruise lining event, the Hamburg Cruise Days, and Europe's leading cruise industry trade show, Seatrade Europe, will start collaborating from 2015 in Hamburg, Germany. Thorsten Kausch, CEO of Hamburg Marketing GmbH, and Bernd Aufderheide, President and CEO of Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH, have announced the planned collaboration at today's "Hamburg Cruise Industry Meeting" at the ITB Berlin world travel trade show. In future, the public cruise lining event and the trade show will join forces to create a "cruise week" in Hamburg that will be unique in the world. In the medium term, the contents and the strategy of these two events will be closely coordinated. The objective is to expand Hamburg's position as one of the world's leading cruise locations. As of September 2015, the entire cruise lining market, from industry experts to tourists, will meet in Hamburg biannually.    

During the "Hamburg Cruise Industry Meeting 2013" at the ITB Berlin, Thorsten Kausch, CEO of Hamburg Tourismus GmbH stated: "The Hamburg Cruise Days have become the cruise industry's most attractive public event. The opportunity to experience the fascinating world of cruise liners and Hamburg's maritime identity first-hand contributes to Hamburg's positive public image. The cooperation between Seatrade Europe and Hamburg Cruise Days will significantly strengthen Hamburg's international repute as a cruise location."  

Launched in 2008, the biannual Hamburg Cruise Days has been turning the port of Hamburg into one big stage. In 2012, Hamburg Tourismus GmbH expanded the concept of the event: more than 500,000 visitors experienced the gathering of cruise vessels on the River Elbe, and as darkness set in, the Blue Port light installation immersed the harbour in magical blue light.  

In future, the Seatrade Europe Cruise & Rivercruise Convention, Europe's trade show and congress for the ocean and river cruise industry, will showcase the industry's latest trends and projects, while the accompanying congress will serve as a platform for industry experts. Following these events, participants will be able to experience cruise lining as a product and gain an insight into the public's enthusiasm for the world of cruise liners - directly at the port. More than 300 exhibitors from 50 countries have registered for the 2013 convention, among them shipbuilders, supplier, outfitters, tour operators, port authorities, classification societies, tourism organizations, hotels, catering companies and IT service providers.

President and CEO of Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH, Bernd Aufderheide, stated the fruitful connection of these two events: "In 2015, Hamburg is going to strengthen its prominent position within the cruise industry. Seatrade Europe is the world's most important cruise industry trade show outside the US. This is where the industry's decision-makers and experts meet, discuss, and develop new trends. The collaboration between Seatrade Europe and Hamburg Cruise Days is turning Hamburg into the cruise industry's biggest platform."

The years up until 2015 will follow the established schedule: Seatrade Europe will take place between September 24 and 26, 2013, and the Hamburg Cruise Days will set the port's scene between August 1 and 3, 2014. As of 2015, Hamburg's new cruise week will be combining the different market segments during the following dates: Seatrade Europe, September 9 to 11, 2015; Hamburg Cruise Days, September 11 to 13, 2015, thereby concretely establishing the cruise week 2017 on the international industry's agenda.

Initial reactions at today's "Hamburg Cruise Industry Meeting" at the ITB Berlin suggest new dimensions for Hamburg as one of the leading cruise locations in Northern Europe.

Michael M. Ungerer, President of AIDA Cruises stated: "I am delighted that these two successful events are joining forces to strengthen Hamburg's international role as a major location for the world's cruise liners. This will enable both Hamburg Cruise Days and Seatrade Europe to systematically attract business clients and cruise passengers by creating a very special atmosphere. Arriving at the port of Hamburg is always a special event for both the AIDA passengers and crew, and we are looking forward to yet another highlight!" Today, Mr. Ungerer was also bestowed with the award "Hamburg Cruise Personality 2013" at the ITB Berlin.

For the year 2013, Hamburg is expecting the arrival of 173 cruise ships and a total of 500,000 passengers. Numbers have risen continuously since 2009. The number of international passengers is continuously increasing. The duration of the cruise season has been expanded further and now runs until December. One of this year's highlights will be the ship christening event of HapagLloyd Cruises' MS Europa 2 on May 10th during Hamburg's 824th port festival. The Cunard Line Queens are visiting Hamburg even more often, calling at the port of Hamburg 14 times in 2013. Six cruise ships of the AIDA fleet will be heading for the port of Hamburg, with 73 scheduled arrivals due in total.

For more information on the cruise liner destination of Hamburg, please visit http://www.hamburg-tourism.de and http://www.hamburgcruisecenter.eu. More information about the Seatrade Europe: http://www.seatrade-europe.com.

Hamburg Tourismus GmbH
Guido Neumann
Head of Media Relations
Steinstraße 7, 20095 Hamburg    
Tel.: +49(0)40-30051-580
Mobil.: +49 (0) 160-97 29 83 02
Fax: +49(0)40-30051-333
E-Mail: guido.neumann@marketing.hamburg.de
URL: http://www.hamburg-tourismus.de