Programme

Day 1 - Tuesday 1st October 2024:

09.00 am: Registration and coffee

09.20 am: - 10.30 am: First Day Conference Sessions

Chair Welcome to Day 1
Stats and Trends in Expedition Cruising

> CEO of the ECN, Akvile Marozaite, will set the scene for the conference ahead by presenting the latest stats and trends on expedition cruising.

Expedition Cruise Leaders Session

> CEO of TTG Media, Daniel Pearce, will lead a panel session of senior figures from a number of leading expedition cruise lines discussing the latest news, trends and opportunities in expedition cruise; - Alex Delamere White - CCO at HX Expeditions - Franklin Braeckman - Senior Antarctic Programme Manager at Oceanwide - Anthony Daniels - General Manager UK and Ireland at Ponant - Jason Flesher - Director of Discovery Operations at Scenic - John McKeon - Founder and President at Polar Latitudes

10.30 am - 11:30 am: Face-to-face meetings

11:00 am - 11:30 am: Seminar

Expedition Cruising to Antarctica

> Chair of the ECN, Martin Johnson, will lead a panel looking at Antarctica expedition cruising in detail including the latest trends, opportunities and information on this very popular expedition cruise destination. - Conny Bartl - Director Sales & Business Development, UK/Europe at Polar Latitudes - Katie Harber - Senior Business Development Manager at AE Expeditions - Franklin Braeckman - Senior Antarctic Programme Manager at Oceanwide - Christine Stevens - VP Sales at Lindblad Expeditions

11.30 pm -11.45 pm: Coffee break

11.45 am - 1.00 pm: Face-to-face meetings

11:50 am - 12:20 pm: Seminar

Luxury Expedition Cruising Panel

> Join CEO of the ECN, Akvile Marozaite, as she leads a panel looking at the world of luxury expedition cruises. Discover what 'luxury' means in expedition cruising and ways that this sector of expedition cruising will develop in the future. - Anthony Daniels - General Manager UK and Ireland at Ponant - Jason Flesher - Director of Discovery Operations at Scenic - Peter Shanks - Managing Director at Silversea - Karen Lentz - International Sales Manager at Hapag Lloyd Cruises

1.00 pm - 1.45 pm: Lunch

1.45 pm - 2.30 pm: Inspirational Speaker Session

Tudor Morgan

> With his nearly 30 years of polar exploration, Tudor Morgan is one of the world’s most experienced leaders in the Antarctic and Arctic and was awarded the Queen's Polar Medal in 2013 and will reflect how the world’s most inhospitable places have become today’s intriguing destinations.

2.30 pm - 3.50 pm: Face-to-face meetings

3.20 pm - 3.50 pm: Seminar

The Positive Impact of Expedition Cruising - A Case Study

> Join PONANT’s Head of CSR and Sustainability Dr.Wassim DAOUD as he shares his insights of how the French expedition cruise company works with local communities in Greenland to ensure reciprocal benefits of expedition cruise line’s visits and authentic and enriching experiences both ways.

3.50 pm - 4.05 pm: Coffee break

4.05 pm - 5.30 pm – Face-to-face meetings

Day 2 - Wednesday 2nd October 2024:

09.00 am: Registration and coffee

09.20 am: - 10.30 am: Second Day Conference Sessions

Chair Welcome to Day 2
Selling Expedition Cruising

> CEO of the ECN, Akvile Marozaite, will lead a panel of senior figures from the world of expedition cruise sales who'll be discussing insights and tips on selling expedition cruising; - Alex Loizou - Director of Sales at Munday Cruising / Adventures - Emma Sanger-Horwell - Head of Cruise at Kenwood Travel - James Turner - Commercial Director at Wildfoot Travel - John Galligan - Owner of John Galligan Travel

Expedition Cruising Through A Camera Lens

> Join award winning photographer Nori Jemil for a look at Expedition Cruising through her camera lens and how to use photography to tell the story of expedition cruising.

10.30 am - 11:30 am: Face-to-face meetings

11.00 am - 11.30 am: Seminar

Warm Weather Expeditions Panel

> CEO of the ECN, Akvile Marozaite, will lead a panel looking at expedition cruising to warm weather destinations around the world. Discover expedition cruise destinations you may have not even thought of before and the opportunities, trends and information you need to help you sell this growing area of the sector. - Adela Issachar Aru - CEO of Vanuatu Tourism Office - Mario Bounas - General Manager, UK & Ireland at Swan Hellenic Limited - Chris Collins - Expedition Leader at Heritage Expeditions

11.30 pm -11.45 pm: Coffee break

11.45 pm -1.00 pm: Face-to-face meetings

11.50 am - 12.30 pm: Seminar

Expeditions Cruising to the Arctic Panel

> Chair of the ECN, Martin Johnson, will lead a panel looking expedition cruising to the Arctic including destinations such as Svalbard, Greenland, Northwest Passage and Canadian Arctic. Discover the latest news, information and trends about these incredible destinations. - Sarah Schlederer - National Strategic Key Account Manager, UK & Ireland at Quark Expeditions - Alastair Newton FRGS - Director Expedition Operations at HX Hurtigruten - Kate Statsenko - Head of International Sales at Poseidon Expeditions - Craig Upshall - Sales Director at Albatros Expeditions

1.00 pm - 1.45 pm: Lunch

1.45 pm - 2.30 pm: Inspirational Speaker Session

Monty Halls

> Monty will draw on his many roles from forming his own expedition company and circumnavigating the globe four times, to his time in the Royal Marines and as President of the Galapagos Conservation Trust and Ambassador for the Durrell Wildlife and Conservation Trust to talk to the ECN delegates on leadership tips for the future

2.30 pm - 3.50 pm: Face-to-face meetings

3.20 pm - 3.50 pm: Seminar

What it takes to deliver the world's best Expedition Cruises

> Join Scenic’s Director of Discovery and Expedition Leader as featured in Discovery documentary series ‘Maritime Masters’ Jason Flesher for a talk on what it takes to develop and deliver expedition cruise experiences onboard ultra-luxury Scenic Eclipse Yachts. Followed by a talk from the Expedition Leader and wildlife photographer Sara Jenner, who will speak about leading expeditions to polar realms onboard Oceanwide Expeditions ships.

3.50 pm - 4.05 pm: Coffee break

4.05 pm - 5.30 pm – Face-to-face meetings

4.20 pm - 4.50 pm: Seminar

Introduction to Micro Expeditions Panel

> Join Chair of the ECN, Martin Johnson, as he leads a panel looking at the world of micro expeditions. Discover the differences in how these cruises operate versus regular expedition cruises and who is the ideal kind of client for this very unique and exciting product. - Raj Singh - Founder of Antara Cruises - Michele D’Agostino - Co-Founder of Secret Atlas - Milly Alva Haimberger - Global Director of Sales at Aqua Expeditions

5.30 pm - 7.30 pm: Networking Drinks & Awards

The ECN Expedition Cruise Awards
> Join us as we celebrate the very best of the expedition cruising industry and reveal the winners of the inaugural ECN Expedition Cruise Awards!

5.30 pm - 7.30 pm: Networking Drinks

Sea Containers Hotel
> Join us across the road from the conference venue at an exclusive area of the Lyaness Bar of the 5* Sea Containers Hotel. Celebrate the close of the ECN Conference and enjoy views of the River Thames!

Thank you to the sponsors of the ECN Expedition Cruise Conference 2024

Buyer Registration

A pre-arranged meeting schedule with expedition cruise operators
Access to conference sessions featuring panel discussions and inspiring speakers
Hospitality at Bankside, including coffee breaks, lunch, and an evening networking reception
An invitation to the inaugural ECN Awards ceremony on Tuesday 1st October.