The Danube Competence Centre (DCC) is the association of tourism actors committed to collaborate in promotion and development of the Danube region as a high quality tourism destination.

As an association of members with trans- and international interests from the public, private and non-government sectors, DCC contributes to the tourism development in the Danube region through advocacy at regional, national and European level; initiating and implementing relevant tourism development activities; marketing tourism services and products of high-quality; and promoting the mutual interests of its members.

Gordana Plamenac is the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Danube Competence Center; she is also former CEO/Managing Director of the National Tourism Organisation of Serbia.

Renata Pindžo, PhD is Associate Professor of Investment Management and Investment Decision Process at the Faculty of Economy, Finance and Administration (FEFA), Singidunum University, Belgrade. Since august 2014, she has been working as Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications, in charge of the tourism sector. As Assistant Minister for tourism in the Government of Republic of Serbia, Renata Pindžo, PhD is responsible for managing,  coordinating and organizing the work of the Sector in order to reach the strategic goals set by the Government of the Republic of Serbia in the field of tourism. In the 2008 – 2014. period, she was engaged as the Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development and in the Ministry of Finance and Economy. She is a member of the National Council for the Tourism Development of the Republic of Serbia.

How the Travel Trade Works: Worldwide, Europe and the Danube Region

This session will start by placing the Danube in a worldwide and European context in terms of visitor numbers and source markets. It will then move on to look into how river products and those along and nearby the river are sold and the way people discover them as destinations.

The ETOA team will introduce the speakers and sessions to show how the river cruising and tour operator expertise will provide inspiration to the delegates in how to foster cooperation and maximise commercial opportunities.

Product Development

This session will explore how cruise operators seek local product and what makes certain offers more attractive than others.  The speaker will discuss the process of discovering, negotiating and contracting river product to fit with the service standards and expectations expected by their clients.

Recommendations will be made as to how to make local offers more attractive to cruise operators and how they can be used to boost the business opportunities along the Danube.

Passenger terminals in the Republic of Serbia

In order to establish more efficient operation of water transport, especially inland ports and harbors, Government of the Republic of Serbia in 2013. formed Port Governance Agency (PGA) as a state administrative body that has multiple roles in the development of water transport.

In addition to the clearly defined development goals for ports and docks, PGA also has a regulatory, developmental and strategic competencies.

PGA encourages inter-port cooperation and internal port competition and prevents monopoly in inland ports or harbours and promotes waterway traffic.

Product Development / Operations

The second session will develop on the themes of the first presentation; looking deeper into the practical delivery of cruise product and group services along the Danube. The two experts will provide examples of how local cooperation reaps rewards in product offer and eventually to the client experience.

They will also explore the ongoing obstacles faced in the Danube region which can be overcome with better coordination of efforts – touching on matters relating to product development and cruise operations.

Group Q&A Sessions with the speakers

Following the presentations, delegates will have the opportunity to speak directly with the speakers and other representatives from the cruise and travel industry. This is the chance to ask direct questions of the experts about how to adapt their product offer to best attract business from cruise and tour operators.

There will be an expert at each table who will be there to discuss the issues raised in the previous sessions. The day will be brought to a close with wider discussion about what has been discovered.

Experts:

• Silvia Saltafossi, Charter Department, Avalon
• Martin Randall, CEO, Martin Randall Travel Ltd
• Lucia Rowe, UK Director, A-Rosa
• Radu Comanici, Managing Director, DCR Cruise Services
• Fero Bakos, Product Development Manager, Tauck
• Robyn Stencil, Tour Operations Product Manager/Researcher, Rick Steves’ Europe

Located in the very heart of Belgrade, on Kralja Aleksandra Boulevard, close to all of the city’s main attractions, and overlooking the Tasmajdan park, the Metropol Palace is the perfect place for both business and leisure travelers.

The hotel offers the largest conference center with total meeting area 1,491 m² and 9 function rooms , accommodating up to 1000 invitees in one conference room, luxurious accommodation in 236 rooms with 40 suites, with complimentary use of the spa & wellness center and in the lobby area overlooking one of the most beautiful parks of the city is the Red Parallel Lounge and 44 Parallel Restaurant.

Special rates are available at Hotel Metropol Palace for Masterclass participants: €95/night (breakfast included); please arrange directly with the hotel via e-mail reservations@metropolpalace.com remarking you are attending Danube Cruise Travel Trade Masterclass.

On the second day of the Masterclass two FAM trips are offered to the participants, both departing at 9 AM from Metropol Palace.

The shorter one is the Tour of Belgrade Highlights which will take you to the Museum of Yugoslav history, St. Sava Cathedral, Nikola Tesla Museum followed by a short refreshment at famous Skadarlija street and ending with a visit to Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park – courtesy of Tourist Organization of Belgrade.

The longer one is a whole day trip along the Danube in Serbia during which you will discover part of its layered history including Viminacium archaeological site, Smederevo and Golubac medieval fortresses. This trip is organised by National Tourism Organisation of Serbia.

Don’t forget to tick a box while registering for the Danube Cruise Travel Trade Masterclass and we’ll get back to you with more details.