Fresh off record-setting attendance at Interferry2022 in Seattle, Interferry is preparing to head Down Under for Interferry2023, the 47th Annual Interferry Conference in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, from November 4 to 8, 2023. Hosted by ferry operator and President's Sponsor Spirit of Tasmania, this conference marks a return to Australia for the first time since the conference was held in the Gold Coast in 2002.
The conference will be held at the Hobart Convention and Exhibition Centre (HCEC). Located within the conference hotel – The Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart – the HCEC is the largest purpose-built conference and events facility in Tasmania. The conference will offer many networking opportunities, including coffee breaks and Happy Hours held in the HCEC. Sponsors and exhibitors will enjoy a flexible and open exhibition area in which to display their products and services.
Other networking opportunities and events include pre-tours to Port Arthur and Bruny Island; partner tours to Bonorong Park and Puddleduck Vineyard; the Sunday Welcome Reception at the Henry Jones Art Hotel and Atrium; the Monday Networking Reception at AURA; and the Farewell Dinner at Wrest Point. Last but not least, there's the Technical Tour. Interferry board member and local shipyard executive Robert Clifford will host along with Craig and Kim Clifford in what will be a must-attend event and a fitting finale for the conference.
The conference theme, "The Leading Edge – Elevating the Customer Experience and Sustainability", promises to deliver another set of timely and topical sessions. Customer Experience related presentations will demonstrate innovative ways to improve the passenger experience that can simultaneously improve operators' efficiency, revenues, and ultimately their bottom lines. Sustainability presentations will demonstrate how the ferry industry can reduce its environmental footprint on a total lifecycle basis, along with ways to handle the various types of vessel discharge; new ship construction methods; and maintenance practices ranging from on-the-run to refits and dry-docking.
Sponsor commitments have been brisk as companies are keen to participate and support Interferry and the ferry industry as well as promote their businesses. There are still a variety of sponsorship options available for those who act quickly.
For complete conference information, check out InterferryConference.com. Follow Interferry on LinkedIn and @InterferryOrg on Twitter for updates, and subscribe to the mailing list via the association's website.