Seatrade Cruise Unveils Keynote Panel For Inaugural F&B@Sea

SEATRADE CRUISE UNVEILS KEYNOTE PANEL FOR INAUGURAL F&B@SEA – IMMERSIVE EVENT DEDICATED TO THE CRUISE F&B SECTOR
Leaders Representing Major International Cruise Lines Gather at Port Everglades
in Fort Lauderdale, FL, 28-29 March

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (16 March 2023) – Seatrade Cruise, the industry’s leading platform for collaborating, innovating and connecting, announces details of its State of the Cruise F&B Industry Keynote, set to kick off the inaugural edition of F&B@Sea, 28-29 March 2023, at Port Everglades’ Terminal 2 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Representing the four major cruise lines, executives from the food and beverage sector will headline the panel delving into industry initiatives, solutions and fostering unity in ever-changing times.

Taking place from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 28 March, the event’s opening session brings together industry leaders to discuss some of the pain points revolving around labor, regulations and changes in the supply chain due to the current climate. Moderated by Deputy Editor of Food & Wine, Melanie Hansche, the dynamic dialogue taps those at the helm of the sector’s leading F&B programs to gain insight on overcoming these challenges and continuing to excel in the years to come; whilst continually striving towards more sustainable sourcing, operations and experience.  

Featured panelists include:
•    Richard Morse, Senior Vice President, Food & Beverage, Carnival Cruise Line
•    Cornelius Gallagher Jr., Vice President, Food & Beverage Operations, Celebrity Cruises
•    Wes Cort, Vice President, Food & Beverage Operations, Norwegian Cruise Line
•    Jacques Van Staden, Senior Vice President, Food & Beverage, MSC Cruises

“It’s an exciting honor to bring forth our first-ever State of the Cruise F&B Industry Keynote to our cruise community and our many shipboard and shoreside partners in the food and beverage space,” says Chiara Giorgi, Global Brand and Event Director for Seatrade Cruise. “We’re proud to welcome an incredible lineup of renowned experts to the Seatrade stage to shine a spotlight on this multibillion-dollar sector which is an essential pillar of the cruise experience.”

Among practical demos and interactive content by top chefs and mixologists, notable panels include discussions on emerging beverage trends and the rise of chef-driven dining concepts at sea.

A Look at Chef-Driven F&B Programs at Sea
Bringing well-regarded, chef-driven F&B concepts to sea can provide obvious marketing benefits and drive bookings, but the inherent challenges in transitioning those brands to a shipboard environment must be navigated cautiously and skillfully. This session offers lessons from experts in the field including:
•   Rob Floyd, Celebrity Mixologist & Liquid Chef, Cocktail Ambassador at Rob Floyd Entertainment, Princess Cruises
•   Sami Kohen, Vice President, Food & Beverage at Princess Cruises
•   Rudi Sodamin, Head of Culinary Art & MasterChef, Chairman and Founder of the Culinary Council at Princess Cruises, Holland America Line

Taste Beverage Trends
From low ABV to zero proof cocktails, to nutrient-rich beverages and vibrant herbs and spices, this session offers invaluable insights from leaders in the beverage industry, dissecting many of the innovative trends taking off in the coming years. Featured panelists include:
•   Luis Ortega, Director, Beverage Development & Operations, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
•    Zachary Sulkes, Senior Director, Beverage Operations, Carnival Cruise Line

The two-day experience catering to the cruise food and beverage community will take place 28-29 March 2023 at Port Everglades’ Terminal 2, in Fort Lauderdale, FL – in tandem with Seatrade Cruise Global (27-30 March 2023).

F&B@Sea was developed in close consultation with cruise lines, food and beverage stakeholders, and culinary leaders with support from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and industry consulting leader MarkeTeam.

For more information on F&B@Sea or to register, visit seatradecruisefnb.com.

For the full schedule of Seatrade Cruise Events visit seatradecruiseevents.com. Follow Seatrade Cruise on social media: @SeatradeCruise on Twitter and Instagram, and @SeatradeCruiseEvents on Facebook. #StrongerTogether #STCVirtual #STCTalks #STCGlobal #STCMed #STCEurope #STCAsia #STCAwards #STCME

SAVE THE DATE:
Seatrade Cruise Europe | 6-8 September 2023
Seatrade Cruise Global 2024 | 8-11 April 2024

About Seatrade Cruise

Serving the international cruise community since 1970, Seatrade Cruise is the industry’s leading platform for collaborating, innovating and connecting. Comprised of the largest cruise events and trades shows, news channels, virtual programming resources and coveted awards programs, the Seatrade Cruise portfolio reaches more than 20,000 professionals, 4,000 suppliers, 80 cruise line brands and 140 countries. 

For more information on Seatrade Cruise Events visit www.seatradecruiseevents.com. For access to the latest news and industry updates visit www.seatrade-cruise.com.

Seatrade Cruise Events are organized by Informa Markets, a leading B2B information services group and the largest B2B Events organizer in the world. To learn more and for the latest news and information, visit informamarkets.com.