New president and vice president aim to drive more cruise traffic to the French Riviera
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Pasquale Hattemberg and Michel Chevillon have been appointed as the respective president and vice president of the French Riviera Cruise Club (FRCC).
Together Hattemberg, who is the deputy minister of tourism and culture at Villefranche city council, and Chevillon, who has been involved with the FRCC since its creation, will lead the association’s efforts to promote the French Riviera to the cruise industry.
“Our challenge is to position the French Riviera as a major destination of the Mediterranean,” said Hattemberg.
Presented to tourism stakeholders on 5 January, the FRCC’s 2016 road map includes aims to reposition the French Riviera at the centre of major cruise industry events; develop cruise passenger greeting systems at member ports and maximise economic benefits for the local area; bring together local businesses and find funding sources for projects; and organise an ecosystem for training, refuelling and technological innovation in the French Riviera region.
“It’s an honour for me to be the lynch pin in the promotion of the French Riviera with cruise company decision makers,” said Chevillon.
In 2016, the FRCC’s member ports are expected to welcome around 550,000 passengers, generating an economic benefit of approximately €40 million for the region.