Congress Program

Speakers include national and international representatives of shipping companies, port entities, travel agencies, destinations and travellers with accessibility needs.




Monday, 2 December – Pre-congress

10:00 – 13:00 Scheduled guided tours of the city of Valencia

16:00 Guided tour of the Port of Valencia (prior registration required)

20:00 Welcome cocktail and dinner at the Edificio del Reloj building (Muelle del Grao, 46024 Valencia)

Discussion:

Moderator: Fernando Valmaseda, CEO of the RV Edipress Group

  • Francisco Sardón Peláez, President of PREDIF
  • Luis Vañó Gisbert, President of CERMI for the Region of Valencia
  • Laura Soler Azorín, Member of the Regional Parliament of Valencia
  • Francesc Sánchez Sánchez, Director General of the Port Authority of Valencia

Tuesday, 3 December – Congress

8:30 Delegate registration and presentation of the welcome pack at the Santos Hotel(Las Arenas Spa & Resort, Eugenia Viñes, 22-24, 46011 Valencia).

9:30 Official opening of the Congress

Official welcome from dignitaries:

Presented and conducted by Fernando Valmaseda, CEO of the RV Edipress Group.

  • Francisco Sardón Peláez, President of PREDIF
  • Aíram Díaz Pastor, President of MedCruise
  • Aurelio Martínez Estévez, President of the Spanish Ports Authority
  • Emiliano García Domene, Delegate Counsellor of Tourism and Internationalisation at Valencia City Hall
  • Herick Manuel Campos Arteseros, CEO of Valencia Region Tourist Board
  • María Pérez Herrero, Regional Secretary of Public Works, Transportation and Mobility
  • Isabel María Oliver Sagreras, Spanish Secretary of State for Tourism

10:30 Inaugural panel session: stakeholders of the accessibility value chain of cruise tourism

Moderator: Juan Daniel Núñez Sánchez, Editor of Smart Travel News

  • Virginia López Valiente, CEO of Cruises News Media Group
  • Marco Pizzio, Head of the Department of Social and Accessible Tourism at AISM and Board Member of ENAT
  • Inés Ayala Sender, President of the International Social Tourism Organisation (OITS-ISTO)
  • Ana Lope Carvajal, Head of the Department of Infrastructures, Spanish Ports Authority
  • Joan-Carles Cambrils i Camarena, Deputy Director of the Valencia Tourism Foundation

11:30 h Coffee break.

12:00 Experiences and requests of travellers with accessibility needs

Moderator: Fernando Valmaseda, CEO of the RV Edipress Group

  • John Sage, Founder and President of Accessible Travel Solutions
  • Sylvia Longmire, CEO of Spin the Globe
  • Juan José Medina Macho, Partner of PUNTODIS
  • Javier García Pérez, Managing Director of the Spanish Confederation of Organisations for the Elderly (CEOMA)
  • Tatiana Alemán Selva, Technical Director of Universal Accessibility, Tourism and Culture, PREDIF

13:30 Cruise companies and the experience for passengers with accessibility needs

Moderator: Virginia López Valiente, CEO of the Cruises News Media Group

  • Carmen Morosan, Global Shore Excursions Manager, Inter-cruises Shoreside and Port Services
  • Raquel Gallego Martín, Charter Specialist at Pullmantur Cruises
  • Rafael Fernández-Álava, Director of Communication and Marketing at Costa Cruises
  • Agustín Quesada Melgares de Alguilar, Director General of Mundomar Cruises – representative of Princess Cruises and Cunard Line

14:30 Lunch at the congress venue.

15:30 Accessibility best practices at cruise tourism destinations

Moderator: Enrique Martínez Marín, President of SEGITTUR

  • Sara Duarte, Director General of Accessible Portugal
  • Josep Maria Gómez Gómez, Head of Sustainable and Accessible Tourism at Barcelona Tourist Board
  • Ulrike Bohnet, Director of the German National Tourist Office for Spain and Portugal
  • Iván González Trigo, Director of Customer Service and Tourist Information at Madrid Destino

16:30 h Coffee break.

17:00 The role of travel agencies and tour operators in accessible cruise tourism

Moderator: Gerda van ‘t Land, Director of Buitengewoon Reizen

  • Mirjam Versteegh, CEO of Disabled Accessible Travel
  • Veroniek Maat, CEO of Accessible Travel Netherlands
  • Malik Alkarea, Director of the Cruise Division of the Ávoris Group (B The Travel Brand).
  • Joan Gatnau i Florensa, CEO of Barcelona for all needs
  • Vittorio Lepre, CEO of “Cosy for you” Tour Operator

18:00 Challenges and opportunities for accessible tourism in cruise experiences

Moderator: Juan Antonio Ledesma Heras, Journalist and Board Member of PREDIF

  • Carmen Morosan, Global Shore Excursions Manager, Inter-cruises Shoreside and Port Services
  • Rafael Fernández-Álava, Director of Communication and Marketing at Costa Cruises
  • Josep Maria Gómez Gómez, Head of Sustainable and Accessible Tourism, Barcelona Tourist Board
  • Mar Chao López, Director of Business Generation and Trade at Valenciaport
  • John Sage, Founder and President of Accessible Travel Solutions

19:00 Presentation of the conclusions of the Congress

Presented by Fernando Valmaseda, CEO of the RV Edipress Group

19:15 Official closure of the Congress

Presented: Fernando Valmaseda, CEO of the RV Edipress Group

  • Francisco Sardón Peláez, President of PREDIF
  • Isabel Palafox Gamir, Deputy Director of Valencia Region Tourist Board

20:00 Closing cocktails and gala dinner with dignitaries at the Santos Hotel (Las Arenas Spa & Resort)



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