After a jam-packed first day, exhibitors and visitors re-joined us bright and early at Fira Barcelona for another exciting day of connecting with new contacts and learning from our world-class conferences. Read on for our second day highlights…
Kicking off the day…
Opening the conference of day two was Petra Ryberg, who introduced to the stage four Cruise Industry thought leaders to discuss Procurement Processes. A packed out conference hall enjoyed enlightening insights from MSC Cruises’ Antonio Di Nenno, Kettal’s Alexis Gouilly Frossard, Quark Expeditions’ Daniela Herget, and Genting Hong Kong’s Angelica Bapty. Petra moderated the session with the idea in mind, as she told the room, that the audience members would perhaps have amazing products but are unsure of how to get involved with cruise companies. When an audience member asked for advice on how to get doors to open for him, Antonio Di Nenno directed people to attend Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Europe. He said, “It’s a very good exhibition – you will find most of the people that will be behind the doors you are knocking on.”
A fulfilling day…
While the second day of exciting conference sessions was underway, attendees and exhibitors took the opportunity to network, holding meetings in the networking lounge and attending the exhibitor and VIP networking lunch.
JOI-Design hosted an exclusive networking breakfast where, after delicious tapas and some much-needed coffee, they presented their land-based designer’s take on current hospitality trends. They noted that quiet spaces that offer respite from our hectic, gadget-driven days are on the rise in luxury spaces, while ‘crazy’ art-filled spaces are popular with the younger demographic. They also noted that natural materials and sustainability have been hand-in-hand trends that only grows.
It was a hard decision to make but the winners of best stand were announced on day two of Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Europe. With a show floor that truly represented the best of design, visitors were wowed by waterfalls, life-size modules, light displays, overflowing greenery and towering statues. KETTAL took the prize for best stand over 20 metres squared, while YSA Design won best stand over 20 metres squared.
Ending with a bang…
After a fulfilling day for everyone involved, visitors joined us for the last conference session of the day. SMC Design’s Andy Yuill, YSA Design’s Anne Mari Gullikstad, KLU’s Duo Yang, Studio DADO’s Greg Walton, and De Jorio Designs’ Marco de Jorio enthralled listeners with a riveting discussion about the Future Global Outlook – how ships are changing, how interior design is impacted, which regions are growing fastest. The session kicked off with a discussion of the ‘Greta Effect’, continuing the theme of sustainability and eco-friendly design that has been a common theme across both days of the show, from sessions on product design to river cruise to expedition cruise and beyond. The panel delved into the Chinese market, which is a growing sector of the cruise market, analysing the Chinese demographic on a granular level. Conversation about refurbishment grew into one about fuel technology. David McCarthy concluded that the future looks bright!
At the end of the day, all attendees left the Fira having made important new contacts, gained new knowledge and gathered new inspiration for upcoming projects.
To everyone who came to Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Europe and made it the success it was, thank you! We look forward to welcoming you back to the Miami Beach Convention Center for Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Americas 2020 – and keep an eye out for more details about Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Europe 2020!