Ahead of Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Americas we are excited to announce the first confirmed speakers for the highly anticipated Cruise Conversations Live 2022. This will take place alongside Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Americas on 7 – 8 June 2022.
The free to attend conference will bring together industry leaders representing cruise lines, design firms, and key suppliers. Then, across two days, they will debate and discuss the latest issues, opportunities, and challenges facing the cruise interiors industry. Some of the topics covered in this year’s conference will include the fundamentals of marine design for new to cruise attendees, discussions on the sustainability focus, and a frank conversation about the cruise interiors supply chain.
This year’s conference follows the success of Cruise Conversations Live 2021, which saw the likes of Dee Cooper (Virgin Voyages), Nedgé Louis-Jacques (Tillberg Design), Yohandel Ruiz (Studio DADO), and more weighing in on a variety of topics, from sustainability to the importance of collaboration within the cruise interiors industry. Read on to get a sneak peek at who will be speaking at this year’s conference.
Confirmed speakers for Cruise Conversations Live 2022 include:
Sascha Lang
Vice President, Architectural & Design | Newbuild & Innovation – Royal Caribbean Cruises
With over 25 years’ experience in hotel design management, Sascha has worked with leading hospitality groups across the world. Well-regarded by professional associates within the hospitality industry for his ability to creatively integrate the development of hotels and interior design concepts, Sascha has extensive experience in hotel and mixed-use development, acquisitions and due diligence, project development and management, concept development, interior design and technical services.
Thomas Westergaard
Vice President – Hurtigruten
Thomas Westergaard is a hospitality management professional with extensive experience from Hotel & Cruise Operations. He has been with Hurtigruten Group for eight years in various senior management positions. Thomas is responsible for designing onboard concepts and interiors in the fleet through refurbishment and newbuild programs.
Boris Ruskovsky
Senior Director Vessel Refurbishment – Norwegian Cruise Line
Over the past 20 years, Boris has been involved with operations, construction, and start-ups of numerous vessels for globally renowned cruise lines. Now Senior Director of Vessel Refurbishment, he is responsible for overseeing large-scale projects for world-leading cruise operator, Norwegian Cruise Line. Boris oversees the hotel refurbishment project management team that executes large guest-facing refurbishment projects for their three brands: Norwegian, Oceania, and Regent.
My Nguyen
Director Interior Design – Holland America Group
My has earned accolades for award-winning and nationally recognized projects in marine, high-end residential, and hospitality design. She joined Holland America Group in a newly created leadership role to form an in-house design team that oversees the interior refurbishments and maintenance of Holland America Line and Seabourn’s fleet. My is also the head designer of staterooms on Holland America Line newbuild vessels.
Javier Calle
Founding Partner – Studio DADO
Javier Calle, USGBC LEED, is a recently reincarnated design professional. After 24 years in the retail design world, Javier followed his instincts, “cut the cord,” and took the plunge into the entrepreneurial world, as a founding partner of Studio DADO, a Miami-based design firm that specializes in creating memorable interior spaces on cruise lines and in the hospitality industry.
Are you interested in learning about the latest innovations in cruise interiors? Learn more about Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Americas here.