For More Information Contact:

Sandra Needham, Executive Director

Discover Portland and Beyond

207-577-3852 or sneed@maine.rr.com

New Cruise Ship Marketing Consortium Formed

Discover Portland & Beyond is a newly formed consortium to assist the cruise trade and their clients to experience the Southern coast of Maine as a cruise destination. The consortium is made up of the following stakeholders – The Port of Portland, Portland’s Downtown District, Freeport’s Merchant’s and Marketing Association, Kennebunk/Kennebunkport Chamber of Commerce, and the Convention & Visitors Bureau of Greater Portland.  Additionally, Discover Portland & Beyond is partnering with CruiseMaine, a statewide organization promoting Maine as a premiere cruise destination.

Discover Portland & Beyond’s mission is to promote the Port of Portland and our shore excursion destinations as a “must see” port of call for cruise lines. We strive to provide assistance to the travel trade, travel media, cruise lines, and passengers.  Additionally, Discover Portland & Beyond will work to educate our constituents locally who are affected by visiting cruise ships, and to prepare them for the needs of the cruise industry and their passengers.

The combination of Freeport, Portland, and Kennebunkport assist the cruise lines to attract passengers and provide a stronger image as a desirable place to visit. The Port of Portland’s new 20 million dollar terminal expansion is designed to meet the needs of today’s cruise lines and is planned for completion in 2007.  Portland has enjoyed the benefits of visiting cruise ships for nearly 20 years and this new terminal will provide for a higher quality facility and the opportunity needed to grow this important industry.  The city of Portland is gaining recognition in the national marketplace as a desirable destination for visitors and the consortium is committed to assisting cruise lines and travel agents in bringing more passengers to Maine. 

Discover Portland & Beyond contracted Sandra Needham, a twenty-year cruise line-marketing representative, as the Executive Director for Discover Portland & Beyond. The consortium has developed four major marketing strategies: to build brand awareness and recognition for the Port of Portland, both as a region and a shore excursion destination; to build on the relationships already established and forge new relationships with cruise lines and travel agents; to promote the destination as a homeport for smaller cruise lines; and to encourage cruise ship passengers to return for vacations in order to increase the economic development potential for the destination.

We are very excited about this new adventure, and look forward to building a long and positive relationship with the existing cruise lines, and many new ones in the future.