MAINE TO HOST CRUISE INDUSTRY SYMPOSIUM IN JUNE 2004

The Maine Port Authority, the CruiseMaine Coalition and the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the 6th Annual Canada/New England Cruise Symposium in Bar Harbor , Maine from  June 1-3, 2004.

The symposium will feature speakers from senior level management of the major cruise lines as well as industry leaders in environmental and security issues.  The program will focus on regional trends, security and environmental issues, cruise itinerary planning, the niche coastal cruising market, North Atlantic operational considerations, and how to effectively market your port to the cruise lines as well as to the travel agent community. Organizers hope to draw over 175 port executives, tourism professionals and industry leaders to the conference. 

The town of Bar Harbor enjoyed over 70 port of call visits in 2003 and nearly 100,000 cruise passengers explored the wonders of Acadia National Park, which covers more than 47,000 acres and host over 2.5 million visitor's annually.  The entire State of Maine saw more than 140 port of call visits last year to many of the coalition's very diverse and classic ports.

The symposium will be held at the newly renovated Harborside Hotel and Marina, which was once the historic Bar Harbor Club, and known as the premiere social club of the Rockefeller's, Astor's, Vanderbilt's and other famous families from Bar Harbor's glorious past. Spouse and family adventure programs are also available during the symposium. Pre and post vacation packages are available at all the CruiseMaine Coalition ports such as Bar Harbor, Bath, Boothbay Harbor, Camden, Freeport, Eastport, Portland, Searsport, Bucksport, Bangor and Rockland.

For more information on the symposium, please click on the symposium button at the bottom of the homepage or contact Amy Powers, Director of CruiseMaine at aepowers@aol.com or 207-310-0998 or Brian Nutter, Executive Director of the Maine Port Authority at Brian.Nutter@maine.gov or 207-624-3564.