There’s nothing quite like being a VIP at an event – preferential treatment, VIP-only lounge, and – best of all – free drinks and snacks. So what does a VIP get up to in a day at Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Americas (CSI)? Below we’ve set out a potential day in the life for Mr. I. Crews, top Executive at a cruise line, to give you an idea of how a VIP would fill their day at CSI.
A Day in the Life of Mr I. Crews, VIP at Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Americas
Morning
On the morning of the first day of the show I head down to the lobby of the CSI HQ hotel to grab a coffee. While in the lobby I bump into a couple of colleagues and we decide to share the short Uber ride over to the Miami Beach Convention Center.
We arrive and head straight for the Speed Networking Lounge. Here I’m greeted by the VIP Management Team for an exclusive complimentary breakfast. This is the perfect opportunity to meet with the industry’s best suppliers and other VIPS. While enjoying the continental breakfast spread, I spot some colleagues and friends I met at last night’s CSI Opening Party. During breakfast, we take some time to discuss the exhibitors we are most excited to meet, as well as the conference sessions and workshops we plan to catch.
Speed Networking
Once I have finished enjoying breakfast, I sit down for CSI’s Speed Networking event. This gives me the chance to have high quality conversations with qualified suppliers. I have a couple of productive sessions and arrange meetings with these suppliers at their booths for later on in the day.
After some valuable conversations, I decide to walk the show floor. This gives me an opportunity to check out some of the design firms, outfitters and industry suppliers in attendance. As I make my way around the show floor I am struck by the innovation and inventiveness of the CSI exhibitors – and not just of their products, but of the stands themselves!
Cruise Conversations Live conference
I arrive at the Cruise Conversations Live conference just in time to catch a panel of industry experts from cruise lines and design agencies discussing future trends in cruise interiors. I have a few opinions on this so make sure to ask a couple of questions in the Q&A session at the end. Cruise Conversations Live 2021 saw speakers from Norwegian Cruise Line, Virgin Voyages, and Studio DADO weighing in on a variety of topics affecting the cruise interiors industry. These ranged from sustainability to digital technologies.
After this insightful session, I head to a prearranged meeting with a head full of ideas. The CSI VIP team organised this based on my requirements for a project due to start next month. I decide to invite them to the VIP Lounge as my guest, so we can have an in-depth discussion over a coffee and pastry, kindly provided by the show organisers.
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Lunch
Once the meeting is done, I head over to the VIP lounge to grab my complimentary lunch. Here, I am joined by someone from a shipyard, another from an outfitting firm, a fabric and textiles supplier, a lighting designer, and a couple of colleagues from the cruise line I work for. We have a great conversation over lunch; it’s always interesting to hear perspectives on the industry from all sides. We exchange details and arrange to meet at the Happy Hour later on in the day.
Afternoon
After lunch, I join a member of the onsite team for a pre-arranged guided tour of the show. Ahead of CSI, I let the team know that I am looking to meet bathroom designers and suppliers for my upcoming project so as part of the tour, they introduce me to relevant exhibitors. We visit their booths and this gives me a chance to introduce myself and arrange a meeting during the show.
After the tour, I spend the next couple of hours walking the show floor, having stimulating conversations with exhibitors, and catching a conference session.
Realising my phone battery is low I head to the VIP Lounge, grabbing a cold drink and finding a quiet spot next to a charging point to catch up on emails away from the hustle and bustle of the show.
Happy Hour
Whilst in the VIP Lounge I spot a colleague that I worked with back in 1996. We have a catch up over a coffee before heading back out on the show floor. An announcement over the tannoy lets us know that the Happy Hour is starting, so we make our way over and enjoy a couple of complimentary cold beers. I introduce my old friend to the new acquaintances made over lunch, and we meet a couple of people from the CSI Team.
Once the Happy Hour is over, we head back to the hotel for a quick freshen up. Once refreshed, we get out into Miami for dinner with colleagues. Between delicious courses we chat about the new discoveries made during the day, and which booths we want to head back to for day two of CSI to discuss future projects with.
What a day!
In one day at Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Americas, Mr I. Crews reconnected with old friends, got inspired by exhibitors and conference sessions, and made new connections, all while being able to grab a free coffee and a croissant in the exclusive VIP Lounge. Do you qualify as a VIP? Fill in the form and our VIP team will be in touch!