WTM 2012 – Heraklion Port Attracts Interest Of Royal Caribbean Cruises

“We have regained our credibility and companies are now listening to us. We are on track,” Ioannis Bras, the chairman and managing director of the Heraklion Port Authority, recently said following talks with US cruise giant Royal Caribbean at the 33rd World Travel Market (WTM) in London, UK.

Heraklion Port Authority’s chairman, Ioannis Bras (right), in talks with Royal Caribbean’s Jo Rzymowska and Stewart Travel’s Willie Stewart (specializes in cruise packages) at WTM 2012.

In a meeting with Jo Rzymowska, Royal Caribbean’s associate vice president and general manager for the UK and Ireland, Mr. Bras discussed the potential of Heraklion Port becoming a homeport for Royal Caribbean cruises.

Heraklion Port’s progress as a homeport for Italian cruise company Costa Crociere this summer was analyzed and Mr. Bras focused on the destination’s comparative advantages.

According to a press release, a detailed presentation of all economical and technical data will soon be prepared so the business and operational strategy plan for cooperation between Heraklion Port and Royal Caribbean can be discussed.

The Heraklion Port Authority was recently honored with the National Project Excellence Award during the 26th Intergrating Project Management Standards World Congress for its project “Home Porting, planning, development and operation at the port and airport.”

Royal Caribbean is represented in Greece by Navigator Travel & Tourist Services.