Seatrade Cruise is debuting F&B@Sea, an immersive two-day experience dedicated to the intersection of the cruise and food and beverage industries, on March 28 and 29, 2023 at Port Everglades, Terminal 2.

The inaugural event, an extension of Seatrade Cruise Global, will offer cruise and culinary professionals the opportunity to tap into emerging trends and new offerings through immersive experiences, including a marketplace of curated vendors, dynamic live demos by top chefs and mixologists, and interactive content sessions featuring industry leaders.

“Extensive research by the Seatrade Cruise team identified the desire and demand for culinary-focused programming within the cruise community,” said Mary Bond, Group Director for Seatrade Cruise.

“F&B@Sea aims to close the gap with vendor showcases, networking and live demonstrations while bringing together cruise line executives and suppliers to meet, learn and discuss challenges, opportunities and expand horizons.”

The global food and beverage market is expected to be worth $6.4 trillion by end of 2022 and $8.9 trillion by 2026, with six leading cruise lines accounting for over $2 billion in food and beverage annually, according to research by Seatrade Cruise. As cruise passenger bookings exceed 2019 levels and vessel supply chains grow increasingly complex, cruise lines are hungrier than ever for partners who can meet their unique needs and keep pace with the market’s rapid growth.

“There’s so much opportunity across the sector for both cruise lines and suppliers to creatively push the envelope. I’m thrilled to be involved with the inaugural F&B@Sea event because Seatrade Cruise has proved they understand how F&B needs are rapidly changing,” says Rick Welch, CFBE, President for RMW Global Consulting.

“The team is up to the task of bringing together cruise executives and suppliers to discuss key trends and industry challenges and opportunities while enjoying experiential offerings in a setting focused on the critical onboard food and beverage delivery."

F&B@Sea caters to the industry’s demand for a South Florida-based gathering dedicated to connecting cruise lines with innovative suppliers at the convergence of food and beverage, entertainment, technology and sustainability. The event was developed in close consultation with cruise lines, food and beverage stakeholders, and culinary leaders with support from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and industry consulting leader MarkeTeam.

"Seatrade’s expansion to include food and beverage represents a huge win for all F&B professionals in the cruise sector. Seatrade is an inspiration—and F&B@Sea will undoubtedly present a fantastic forum showcasing innovative trends in F&B. This premiere promises to serve up a generous helping of inspiration to bring our F&B outputs to the next level and new ideas to address the supplier-base challenges unique to our industry," added Rudi Sodamin, Master Chef, Holland America Line & Head of Culinary Arts, Princess Cruises

Seatrade Cruise Global, the world’s largest annual cruise conference, will take place in tandem with F&B@Sea at the newly renovated Broward County Convention Center in Greater Fort Lauderdale, Florida on March 27-30, 2023.

The four-day conference plans to host more than 8,000 attendees across the industry, including cruise professionals, thought leaders and innovators. – TradeArabia News Service