Top Headlines

ITB Berlin 2020 cancelled

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 01 March 2020 01 March 2020

ITB Berlin 2020 will not take place. Due to the rapid spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Ministry of Economics have stated their opinion that ITB Berlin be cancelled. This evening at 1827 hrs, the responsible health authority of the district of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf in Berlin imposed significantly tighter restrictions on holding the event. Among its requirements the authority stipulated that each participant would need to prove to Messe Berlin that they were not from a designated risk area or had not been in contact with a person or persons from a risk area. It is not possible for Messe Berlin to satisfy these requirements overall.

Messe Berlin had for weeks made it known that a decision on holding or cancelling large-scale events would only be taken based on the recommendations or instructions of the relevant specialist authorities. Only they possess the necessary information and specialist knowledge in order to draw the right conclusions.

Dr. Christian Göke, CEO of Messe Berlin GmbH, said: ”With more than 10,000 exhibitors from over 180 countries ITB Berlin is extremely important for the world’s tourism industry. We take our responsibility for the health and safety of our visitors, exhibitors and employees very seriously. It is with a heavy heart that we must now come to terms with the cancellation of ITB Berlin 2020.”

Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Messe Berlin Wolf-Dieter Wolf said: ”Not once in the 54-year history of the event have ITB Berlin and Messe Berlin experienced a similar situation. We would like to thank all exhibitors and partners from all over the world who over the past few days and weeks have stood by ITB Berlin. We look forward to continuing the trusted relationship with our partners in the market.“

John Delaney steps down as President, Chris Prelog elevated to COO of Windstar Cruises

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 01 March 2020 01 March 2020

Seattle-based Windstar Cruises announced on February 28 that John Delaney, President of Windstar Cruises since July 2016, will be stepping down on Wednesday, March 4th to focus on personal priorities. Andrew Todd, President and CEO of Xanterra Leisure Holding, LLC, the parent company of Windstar Cruises, will continue as CEO of the small-ship cruise line. Delaney will provide advice to the brand during the transition through March.

Christopher Prelog, Vice President of Fleet Operations at Windstar Cruises and former VP at Seabourn Cruise Line, will assume the role as Chief Operating Officer of Windstar Cruises. Prelog's entire professional career has been in hospitality and the cruise industry and he actually began his career on ships and now has risen to the rank of COO with Windstar.

In addition, another highly respected name in the world of travel, cruising and hospitality will help with the transition. Betsy O'Rourke, Chief Marketing Officer for Xanterra and the former SVP of Marketing at Royal Caribbean, will lend her expertise to the Windstar brand during this exciting time of growth and expansion highlighted by the $250 Million Star Plus Initiative, where all three of Windstar's yacht-like ships (half of Windstar's entire fleet) are being lengthened to feature new suites, dining venues and public spaces. The first of the "new" stretched ships, Star Breeze, returns to service May 2020.

American Cruise Lines to accelerate expansion

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 28 February 2020 28 February 2020

American Cruise Lines has announced that it will launch two additional modern riverboats for the 2021 season. Construction is already underway on the new riverboats and will ramp up as American Jazz, the Line’s 3rd modern riverboat, is readied for its 2020 debut in New Orleans.

The two riverboats coming next year will be sister ships to the American Harmony and American Jazz, but will feature new design elements that appeal to today’s discerning travelers. Further design enhancements will be unveiled later this year.

“These new ships show our continued commitment to leading the Mississippi River cruise market,” said Charles B. Robertson, President & CEO of American Cruise Lines. “The American fleet is already unrivaled and the new riverboats will allow us to continue to roll out innovative amenities that enhance guest experiences.” All three new ships are being built at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, MD, an affiliate of American Cruise Lines.

“Chesapeake Shipbuilding is well-suited to increase production output,” said Steve McGee, President of Chesapeake Shipbuilding. “We have five hull fabrication buildings and more than 1,000 feet of deep water bulkhead to build and outfit multiple ships at the same time.”

American’s series of modern riverboats ushered in a new era of river cruising in the U.S. The Line introduced the country’s 1st modern riverboat in 2018, with the historic debut of the series flagship, American Song. The 2nd modern riverboat, American Harmony, was introduced in 2019 and the 3rd, American Jazz, begins cruising the Mississippi in 2020.

American Cruise Lines has introduced five new ships since 2017, including new coastal ships, and will have 14 ships cruising in 2021. By expanding both its river and coastal fleet, American is able to offer an unprecedented number of itineraries across the country.

Andy Stuart joins Global Ports Holding board

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 27 February 2020 27 February 2020

Global Ports Holding Plc (GPH), the world's largest independent cruise port operator, said that Andy Stuart has been appointed as an independent non-executive director of the company with immediate effect.

GPH has its headquarters in Istanbul and it is listed in London.

Stuart was until recently President and Chief Executive Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line, the largest cruise line of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd group.

“Board members Thierry Edmond Déau and Thomas Josef Maier will step down as independent non-executive directors of the company, effective from the meeting of the board on 24 February 2020,’ GPH continued.

Both having decided not to stand for re-election at the next AGM, agreed to step down early to allow new board members to join as soon as practically possible.

“The process of appointing an additional Non-Executive Director, with experience in a UK Plc context is underway,” GPH stated. Plc is short for Public Limited company

Stuart worked for Norwegian Cruise Line for more than 30 years and prior to becoming President and Chief Executive Officer, he fulfilled a number of senior executive roles including Chief Operator Officer and Executive Vice President, a role in which he oversaw global sales and passenger services.

Mehmet Kutman, Chairman and Co-Founder of Global Ports Holding, said: "I am delighted to welcome Andy Stuart to the Board. His vast experience of the cruise industry over a period of more than 30 years, makes him a valuable addition to the team. We look forward to benefiting from his insights as we continue the expansion of our cruise port business.

TT-Line transfers two-ship ropax contract to Rauma due to FSG problems

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 27 February 2020 27 February 2020

TT-Line, the Australian ferry company, said it has switched a contract to build two 50,600 gross ton ropax ferries to Rauma Marine Constructions in Finland from the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) shipyard in Germany due to the problems at the last named builder.

TT-Line chairman Michael Grainger said the decision was mutually agreed by TT-Line and FSG. “While we respect there has been significant Tasmanian community interest, it was imperative the company followed its legal advice to protect the interests of the state of Tasmania at all times,” he said in a statement.

“The firm advice was that neither TT-Line nor the Government could make public comment regarding the contract details or the status of ongoing conversations with FSG until now. It was critical that we protected the interests of the State of Tasmania at all times. No payments to FSG have been made, and no payments will be made.”

Grainger said TT-Line had been in contact with another shipbuilder, the Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC). “RMC was one of the yards originally short-listed through the extensive procurement process undertaken. Since the cancellation of the contracts with FSG, TT-Line has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the RMC and will commence contract negotiations and agree final design specifications. This will include finalising a new delivery date, which at the moment is late 2022 for hull 1 and late 2023 for hull 2. Both delivery dates are well within the expected replacement date of 2028,”Grainer continued.

“Importantly, the current Spirit of Tasmania vessels are already emissions compliant as was required by 2020 and can continue to operate safely and efficiently well past 2021.”

Grainger added that the majority of the work undertaken to date on the new vessels by TT-Line and their expert consultants was transferrable and would be utilised in the detailed design phase and contract negotiations with the new shipbuilder.