On the 30th anniversary of Cruise Atlantic Islands (CAI), APRAM – Administração dos Portos da Madeira, will be holding an International Conference on September 27 in Funchal, which aims to bring together CAI members (Madeira, Canary Islands, Cape Verde and Azores), operators, sector agents, government officials and journalists.
Representing a market of 3.3 million cruise passengers, CAI is a differentiated product in the global cruise market, based on the unique and complementary identities of the Atlantic islands of Macaronesia.
This conference is an opportunity to reflect on the Cruise Tourism Industry in the Atlantic Region and the world, seeking the best answers to the increasingly competitive challenges CAI faces. The focus on sustainability, decarbonization of ports, the energy transition, the circular economy, and technological innovation are the key issues to be addressed, always in a joint strategy.
.10:00 – 12:30
.Tour in the mountains with speakers, press and guests, by invitation only.
Tree planting initiative in Funchal’s Ecological Park
.13:00 – 15:30
.Lunch with speakers, press and guests, by invitation only
.19:00 – 21:00
.Networking Welcome cocktail (Madeira Cruise Terminal)
.Tribute to the Founders of CAI
.Words from the Presidents of the CAI Port Authorities
.09:00 – 13:30.
CAI Conference (Funchal City Hall)
Signing Protocol CLIA / Madeira Ports / CM Funchal
.Vice-President CLIA in Europe, Nikos Mertzadinis
.CEO Madeira Ports, Paula Cabaço
.Mayor of Funchal, Cristina Pedra
.Regional Government of Madeira, Pedro Fino
.Portuguese Government, (TBC)
‘The past in building the competitiveness of CAI’
Moderation:
Ricardo Miguel Oliveira – General Director Diário de Notícias da Madeira
Speakers:
.Juan Francisco Martin – Former Commercial Director (Canary Islands)
.João Reis – Former President in APRAM (Madeira)
.Michael Blandy – Former CEO Blandy Group (Madeira)
.Eduardo Alvarez Hamilton – Former CEO Hamilton & CO (Canary Islands)
.Franklim Spencer – Managing Partner of RS Consult
Opening Exhibition ‘CAI’s 30th Anniversary’
Coffee-break & Networking
‘Challenges and Opportunities for the Cruise Tourism Industry in the Atlantic Region and the World’
Moderation:
Virginia Lopez Valiente – CEO | Cruises News Media Group
Speakers:
.Eduardo Cabrita – General Director MSC Portugal
.Fiona Noone – Marine Planning and Port Operations Manager at Marella Cruises TUI
.Kai Algar – Marine & Port Planning Manager at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
.Amadeu Albuquerque – Nautical Senior Operations Manager at Mystic Cruises
.Rafael Fernández-Álava – Communication & External Affairs Director in Costa Crociere
.Mark Robinson – General Manager of the BC Group
‘The Future of CAI’
Message from the Presidents of the CAI Port Administrations
Closing session
CLIA Europe
.13:30 – 15:30
.Lunch with speakers, guest and press, by invitation only
.17:00 – 19:00
.Walking Tour in Funchal and Old Town for speakers, guest and press, by invitation only
.10:00 – 15:00
FAM Trip North Coast, by invitation only
Typical lunch
Nikos Mertzanidis
CO-HOST
Vice-President, Ports & Destinations and Taxation at Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)
Virginia López Valiente
Moderator
CEO | Cruises News Media Group
Ricardo Miguel Oliveira
Moderator
General Director Diário de Notícias da Madeira
Amadeu Albuquerque
Nautical Senior Operations Manager, Mystic Cruises
Eduardo Cabrita General Director of MSC Cruises in Portugal
Eduardo Alvarez Hamilton
CEO Hamilton Immuebles SA
Fiona Noone
Marine Planning and Port operations Manager at Marella Cruises
Franklim Spencer
Managing Partner of RS Consult
João Reis
Former President in APRAM (Madeira)
Juan Francisco Martin
Capitan
Kai Algar
Marine & Port Planning Manager at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Mark Robinson
General Manager, BC Group
Michael Blandy
Non-executive director of Blandy SGPS SA
Rafael Fernández-Álava
Communication & External Affairs Director in Costa Crociere