Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Travel And Tour World had the opportunity to interview Luigi Stefanelli as Associate Vice President for the Southern Europe Region of Costa Cruise Line. Stefanelli, a 38-year-old Neapolitan, has a degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Corporate Financial Reporting. Stefanelli started his career as a consultant at Ernst & Young Financial Business Advisor in Rome and then began his journey in the cruise industry in Genoa, in the Pricing & Revenue Management department of Costa Cruises.
Travel And Tour World: Can you talk about journeys from last year until this year?
Luigi Stefanelli: The previous year concluded on a high note in terms of profitability, and as we entered 2024, our sales trends have shown that we are maintaining that momentum. We are extremely pleased with the continued interest in our cruise offerings, indicating that our efforts to keep demand high are effective. Our strategy for sustaining demand centers on two key initiatives. Initially, from 2021, we embarked on a new strategic direction with a focus on enhancing our product and innovating our communication methods.
This strategy is rooted in delivering value to our customers and engaging them with fresh, creative communication tactics. Our current marketing campaign is a reflection of this strategic principle. Over the last three years, we’ve made substantial investments in three primary areas to enrich our cruise experience: culinary excellence, environmental sustainability, and enriching shore excursions, which we refer to as sea-land experiences. These investments are a testament to our commitment to offering a superior product and experience to our guests.
Travel And Tour World: Can you discuss a bit more about it?
Luigi Stefanelli: In the realm of gastronomy, we’ve really stepped up our game. Our guests on board are more satisfied than we ever anticipated, surpassing even the pre-pandemic levels of 2019. Our investments have spanned various areas, including partnerships with Michelin-starred chefs, the introduction of new menus, and the launch of entirely new dining spaces like the Archipelago restaurant. It’s clear that when it comes to food, we’re hitting all the right notes.
Moving on to shore excursions, or as I prefer to call them, sea-land experiences, we’ve completely overhauled our offerings from top to bottom. This revamp is crucial for us because we recognize a clear trend: today’s customers are eager for new experiences. By tuning into both our guests and potential visitors, we’ve entirely reimagined our portfolio of excursions. This year, we’re thrilled to introduce a significant innovation not just for us but for the entire industry – the so-called sea destinations. This concept revolutionizes the onboard experience by offering unique activities that aren’t limited to just shore excursions but include special experiences available only on board. It’s a fresh way to keep our customers engaged, whether they’re ashore or at sea.
As for sustainability, it’s a multifaceted approach. We’re focused on reducing our environmental impact, which includes modernizing our current fleet and investing in new ships powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the cleanest option currently available for cruise ships. These efforts underscore our commitment to sustainability across every aspect of our operations, from gastronomy and excursions to the very ships we sail.
Travel And Tour World: And would you like to add anything further?
Luigi Stefanelli: When it comes to upgrading our current fleet, our main goal has been to reduce emissions. The path is clear: we’re heading towards zero emissions. Currently, certain technologies are available, and thanks to our affiliation with Carnival Group, we’re collaborating internationally with companies, associations, authorities, and others to move in the direction of zero emissions. On the other hand, regarding sustainability, particularly on the social front, there’s something we’re especially proud of: our partnership with Banco de Alimentos. This collaboration allows us to donate food that has been prepared but not served at our buffet. This initiative enables us to provide meals to those less fortunate, and we take great pride in these efforts.
Travel And Tour World: What is your take on FITUR?
Luigi Stefanelli: We have every reason to feel optimistic about the future. I’ve been around for the first two days, and I’ll be honest with you all, there’s a real buzz in the air. You can sense that people, not just those in business-to-business but also everyday consumers, are really eager to travel again. That’s fantastic news for the entire leisure industry. So, we’re eagerly anticipating welcoming even more guests onto our ships.
Tags: Cruise, excursions, gastronomy, innovation, LuigiStefanelli, sustainability, Travel
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
