About the Expo

Mark Dowling

Divisional Managing Director, Tower Supplies

 “It is an event of great significance for Genoa, Italy and Europe. It will bring together all the major stakeholders of the sector globally: shipowners, maritime authorities, government institutions, and regulators, together with the world of suppliers to the cruise industry.”

Pierfrancesco Vago
CLIA Global Chair

 “I’m absolutely thrilled and eagerly anticipating the Innovation Expo. This event presents a fantastic opportunity for Genoa and Europe as a whole, as we extend a warm welcome to major cruise companies and essential partners. I am fully dedicated to ensuring its success because this kind of gathering has the potential to create significant value for MSC and the entire industry. I’m confident that the Innovation Expo will emerge as the most important cruise event ever held in Europe, focusing on crucial industry topics such as innovation and sustainability.”

Paolo Raia
Managing Director, MSC Procurement & Logistics S.p.A.

 “I am incredibly excited about the upcoming CLIA Innovation Expo. This new platform brought to us by CLIA is keenly focused on innovation and sustainability and perfectly aligns with our responsible sourcing mission. My team and I look forward to not only discovering new products and services but also addressing challenges with provisioning our vessels in the region. Amongst the many opportunities we’ll have to connect with both existing and new suppliers in 2024, this is one event not to be missed!”

Carl Robie
Executive Vice President & Chief Supply Chain Officer,
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings 

 “I am incredibly excited about the Innovation Expo. CLIA’s continuous dedication to uncovering new technologies and sustainable solutions are set to transform our industry. I am particularly interested in local source options for food and beverage products consumed onboard. As we seek out ways to more effectively provision our vessels currently operating around the world, this forum couldn’t have come at a better time!”

Norbert Dean
Chief Supply Chain Officer, Carnival Cruise Line 

Embrace Innovation and Savour the Cruise Experience of Tomorrow

Innovation Expo will provide an experiential showcase featuring creative concepts, technology advancement, and visionary ideas across all categories. It also aims to fulfill the interest of our cruise line buyers to discover local sources of products to provision the vessels throughout Europe. Innovation Expo offers a valuable opportunity to learn and test new products and solutions coming to market. Ultimately, this event and the programme around it will help develop new and existing relationships with our member cruise lines via this exclusive forum.

What to Expect

Here’s what you can expect at the CLIA Innovation Expo:

The Innovation Center connecting product developers and solution providers in marine technology, entertainment, design and interiors, plus those new to cruise, with cruise line representatives. Special demonstration areas will showcase these new products and innovations, while exhibitors will have the opportunity to pitch their offerings.

Innovation Expo will connect providers within the hospitality segment connecting providers within the hospitality segment, including hotel, food and beverage with distributors and cruise line decision makers. This will include a creative option for Ports and Destinations to highlight local sourcing options. Here, buyers will have an opportunity to taste and feel the products on display.

The CLIA Innovation Expo was designed for our member cruise lines seeking a curated forum to discover new suppliers and resources. We are delighted to be working with the Chief Procurement Officers of each of our major cruise lines in the development of the programme. 

Cruise Line Advisory Group

We are extremely fortunate to be collaborating with our member cruise line Chief Procurement Officers on the development of the Innovation Expo programme.

  • Jon McKeown – Chief Procurement Officer, Carnival Corp
  • Norbert Dean – Chief Procurement Officer, Carnival Cruise Line
  • Marco Dioda – Vice President, Procurement and Supply Chain, Costa Group
  • Germano Colombo – Chief Procurement Officer, MSC Cruises
  • Paolo Raia – Managing Director, MSC Procurement & Logistics S.p.A.
  • Carl Robie – EVP & Chief Supply Chain Officer, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings
  • James Wells – Global Chief Supply Chain Officer, Royal Caribbean Group
  • Giorgio Zagami – VP Strategic Sourcing and Head of Procurement, Explora Journeys

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