Panel of Judges

 

Our independent panel of judges is made up of 14 leading voices from across the international cruise community. Drawing on expertise in key sectors including operations, hospitality, technology and marketing they have many years of experience to draw upon when developing the Seatrade Cruise Awards shortlist.

2019 was a triumphant year for the cruise industry and it is important to remember that. That’s why this year, Seatrade Cruise Awards aim to
celebrate both successes of 2019 and resilience, innovation and problem solving of 2020! The cruise industry has always defied challenges and it will thrive again!

Discover more about our judging panel below including their top tips for success!

Per Bjornsen

Managing Director, V.Ships Leisure

Ted Blamey

Principal, CHART Management Consultants

Tom Boardley

Secretary General, Cruise Lines International Association Europe (CLIA Europe)

Bio

Per has had a career of over 25 years dedicated to the cruise industry. Holding key roles at V.Ships Leisure in Monaco before his appointment as Managing Director in 2015, Per has been instrumental in the development of the market leading global ship and hotel management partner for the cruise industry.

Bio

A cruise industry pioneer and leader, over a 40-year career Ted has served as major cruise line President & CEO, Port Authority Chair, retail travel giant CEO and, since founding CHART Management Consultants in 1997, strategist, adviser, analyst and commentator on our industry.

Bio

Tom is the Secretary General in Europe for Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Mission to Seafarers,and is also a member of the UK Department for Transport’s Maritime 2050 Expert Panel. Previously, Tom was the President of the UK Chamber of Shipping (2015/2016) and served as Chairman of IACS (International Association of Classification Societies) for the 2012/2013 year.
What makes a winning entry?

"I look principally for: value to the industry as a whole (rather than to the candidate per se); value to the cruise consumer; true innovation; results achieved; and how closely the submission addresses the award criteria. I also rate current year projects higher than ones which express aspirations yet to be achieved or were completed in previous years."

Claus Bødker

Director, Cruise Baltic

Grenville Cartledge

Managing Director, Four Gold

Andrew Coggins

Cruise Industry Analyst, Clinical Professor, Management & Management Science Department- Lubin School of Business, Pace University, New York

Bio

Claus Bødker joined Cruise Baltic and Cruise Copenhagen Network in May 2014. He came from a position as CEO in a subsidiary to the National Lottery in Denmark. In addition to the above, brings with him 14 years of experience from the travel industry from companies such as KILROY travels, Thomas Cook and Hertz Denmark, where he was CEO.

Bio

A hospitality professional, graduate of hotel school who worked in international hotel management for some years before starting his cruise industry career in the early 1980's with Cunard Line on board QE2. He moved shore side and fulfilled several senior operational roles, including HR, Training, Hotel Operations and Guest Experience, with various cruise lines. Since 2010 he has managed his own cruise consultancy company, Four Gold.

Bio

Andrew O. Coggins, Jr. is a Professor of Management in Lubin School of Business, Pace University. His Ph.D. dissertation on “What makes a passenger ship a legend?’ won the 2006 ITB “Best International Paper Award.” He has studied the cruise industry and attended Seatrade cruise events worldwide since 1993. A retired USN Surface Warfare Commander, he teaches Business, Hospitality & Tourism, and Cruise Line Management courses.
What makes a winning entry?

"Show the judging panel that you are passionate and proud of the achievements, which you describe in your entry. "

What makes a winning entry?

"An ideal entry would demonstrate creative thinking and have clear points of difference. It would be relevant to current challenges faced by the industry, or community it serves, and would be looking to move it forward with an obvious passion. "

What makes a winning entry?

"A winning award entry should make a unique problem solving contribution to the industry."

Michelle Fee

Chief Executive Officer, Cruise Planners an American Express Travel Representative

Nicky Guerrero

Board of Directors, MedCruise & Chief Executive of Gibraltar Tourist Board

Chris Hayman

Chairman, Seatrade

Bio

Michelle is a devoted advocate for Cruise Planners® travel advisors, sitting on the advisory boards of Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises and the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), as well as the Executive Forum for Carnival Cruise Lines. Since 1994, Michelle Fee has led Cruise Planners, ensuring franchise owners have the technology, marketing, and training they need to be the best in the industry.

Bio

Nicky has been in the tourism and hospitality industry for over 30 years. He is Chief Executive of the Gibraltar Tourist Board and a member of the Board of Directors of MedCruise with responsibility for Events and Partnerships.

Bio

Chris Hayman has been Chairman of Seatrade since 2005. He has been actively involved in the development of the company, including its publishing, conference and exhibition businesses, for general shipping, offshore marine and the cruise industry. He is also Chairman and owner of a management training company, Seatrade Academy Ltd and a directory publishing company. In 2007 he was awarded the John Lancaster-Smith Award for services to passenger shipping.

William F. Humphrey, Jr. Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Marketing, Florida International University

Craig Milan

Consultant

Anne Kalosh

Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

Bio

William F. Humphrey, Jr. is a marketing professor at Florida International University focused on digital marketing and social media innovations. He is an alum of both the cruise lines and distribution system in eCommerce and digital marketing roles.

Bio

Anne Kalosh covers global stories, reporting both breaking and in-depth news on cruising's significant people, places, ships and trends. A sought-after expert on cruising, she has moderated conferences around the world, including the high-profile State of the Industry panel at Seatrade Cruise Global. She is the cruise columnist for AFAR.com, and her freelance stories have appeared in a wide range of publications, from The New York Times to The Miami Herald.
What makes a winning entry?

"The best entries clearly communicate the innovation with a clear value proposition for the end consumer and how it differs from the status quo. "

Jens Skrede

Managing Director, Cruise Europe 

Ingo Soerensen

Area VP Global Cruise Sales, Oracle Hospitality

Bio

Born in Hamburg, Germany, Ingo started his career, working in Rooms division in 5* Hotels in Germany and in the US. In his 20 years in the Cruise industry he held various positions at Oracle Hospitality Cruise, formerly known as Fidelio Cruise Software. With a strong background in Operations and IT, he is now leading the global Sales department at Oracle Hospitality Cruise as Area Vice President. Oracle is providing Point-of Sale, Property- and Fleet Management Software to the Cruise Industry.