Cruise Shipping Asia Releases Conference Program, Panelists

PRINCETON, New Jersey, August 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Cruise Shipping Asia has released its preliminary conference agenda and confirmed participants. Produced by UBM Live, which organizes the annual Cruise Shipping Miami event, and UBM Asia, Cruise Shipping Asia debuts Nov. 16-18, 2011, at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore.

The event features timely conference sessions and a comprehensive exhibition showcasing pan-Asia's potential as a cruise business sector and source market, focusing on the region from Japan and Korea to China, Taiwan, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Indian subcontinent and Australia.

"Asia holds promising opportunities for the cruise industry, and the inaugural Cruise Shipping Asia event gives us all a foothold in shaping what comes next," said Michael Bayley, executive vice president, International, for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., and confirmed panelist. "From port infrastructure development to attracting tourists from around the world, our industry can be instrumental in Asia's future growth."

The conference opens the morning of Nov. 16 with the "State of the Asian Cruise Industry" session, with Stein Kruse, president and CEO of Holland America Line, RCCL's Michael Bayley, Roberto Giorgi, president of V. Ships, and Neil Palomba, chief operations officer of MSC Cruises, joining the panel.

Participating in the afternoon's "Destinations: Challenges and Opportunities in the Development of the Cruise Industry" panel are Ted Blamey, principal of Chart Management Consultants; Made Mangku Pastika, governor of Bali, Indonesia; Dr. Sapta Nirwandar, director general of tourism marketing, Indonesia Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and Richard Doyle, managing director of Doyle Tourism Services.

The Nov. 17 morning concurrent sessions are "Ship Building, Repair and Refurbishment - The Asian Perspective" and "Terminal Design & Operations," with Bruce Krumrine, vice president shore operations for Europe and exotics for Princess Cruises, and Mark Robinson, managing director of Intercruises, on the panel.

The afternoon concurrent sessions are "Sourcing in Asia for the Existing and Future Fleets" and "The Regulatory Environment and Crewing."

Nov. 18 opens with "Marketing in the New Age," to be moderated by Yeoh Siew Hoon, editor and producer of Web In Travel, and "Shore Excursions & Port Services," with moderator Ted Blamey of Chart Management Consultants and panelist Laura Vlad, regional director, Asia, for Intercruises.

The final conference sessions are "Identifying Source Markets" with Michael Goh, senior vice president of sales for Star Cruises, and "Successfully Designing the Cruise Experience for the Asian Market," which is to be moderated by Yeoh Siew Hoon of Web In Travel with panelists Dr. Zinan Liu, managing director, China & Asia Pacific, for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.; Steve Odell, senior vice president Asia-Pacific for Silversea Cruises, and Dario Rustico of Costa Crociere.

This program is subject to change and alterations.

Further conference agenda updates will be provided as additional panelists are confirmed.

To be notified when registration is open visit http://www.cruiseshippingasia.com/request-more-information

Supporting Cruise Shipping Asia's 2011 debut are the Asia Cruise Association, Cruise Lines International Association and Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association.

Conference Contact:
Registration information:
http://www.cruiseshippingasia.com/request-more-information

Exhibitor information visit: http://www.cruiseshippingasia.com/exhibitors

UBM Live is the organizer of the annual Cruise Shipping Miami, the leading international exhibition and conference serving the cruise industry. UBM Live is a wholly owned subsidiary of UBM plc (LSE: UBM) a leading provider of business information services to the maritime, travel, fashion, technology, healthcare, media, and property industries. UBM offers services in trade shows, online, news distribution, and publishing to customers across the globe. Its brands are represented in more than 30 countries and are organized into specialist teams that serve their business communities helping them excel in their market by working effectively and efficiently. For more information, go to UBM Live.

UBM Asia is the leading organizer of exhibitions in Asia, and the biggest commercial exhibition organizer in the two fastest growing markets in Asia: China and India, with associated print and online media. UBM Asia is owned by UBM plc which is listed on the London Stock Exchange with headquarters in Hong Kong. It has over 800 staff in 17 major cities across Asia.