INTERNATIONAL. Leading maritime travel retailers Harding Retail and Starboard Cruise Services have joined the exhibitor line-up for the Virtual Travel Retail Expo, boosting the presence and profile of the cruise sector at an important time for the channel.

They will take their place alongside over 120 other partners across a range of categories and channels at the pioneering event next month (12-16 October).

Anticipation is building ahead of the Virtual Travel Retail Expo, with the recovery of the cruise sector an important theme, and with the two leading global cruise concessionaires taking exhibition space

Harding Managing Director James Prescott (left) said: “We’re thrilled and excited to be part of the Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo. We’ve all been too long locked away licking our wounds, so this chance to come back out into the light and engage as an industry is absolutely fantastic.

“The opportunity to show and share what we’ve been up to, and talk about the wider cruise sector is incredibly welcome. We’ll be using the platform to raise awareness about cruise as a whole and also see it as an ideal medium to thank our partners for their continued support.

“What you will see from Harding in the coming weeks will be very exciting and a real surprise. I’d like to thank Martin, Dermot, and the wider Moodie Davitt Report team and their partners for enabling us to take part.”

Starboard Cruise Services Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer Lisa Kauffman (right) said: “We’re looking forward to participating in the Moodie Davitt virtual trade show as an exhibitor. Our two companies, Starboard Cruise Services and Onboard Media, will have the opportunity to introduce our strengths and capabilities to a global audience of potential partners and customers with the innovative and high production quality digital showcase concept.”

The profile of the cruise sector will be further boosted by a special session at the Virtual Expo Knowledge Hub dedicated to the recovery of the channel. It will take place on 13 October and will feature James Prescott, alongside Starboard CEO Lisa Bauer and MSC Cruises Head of Retail Adrian Pittaway.

Click here for more on that session, the Knowledge Hub and the wider event.