When the next Cruise Shipping Miami convenes March 10th, 2014, it will mark the 30th anniversary of the industry’s signature annual event.

Owner and organiser UBM Live is planning a tribute to the cruise business’ past, present and future to mark the three-decade milestone.

Building on the success of its 2013 introduction, next year’s show will feature an expanded Sustainable Cruising program, where destinations and technical communities share innovative solutions for environmental issues with the cruise industry.

The Amusement and Entertainment Technology Pavilion also will return and a newly developed food and beverage program will be implemented.

“While Cruise Shipping Miami 2014 marks its 30th anniversary, the show continues to evolve in terms of highlighting trends and showcasing the latest products and services for the cruise enterprise,” said Daniel Read, director of UBM Live’s Cruise Portfolio.

“This event will continue to be the place where all sectors of the global cruise industry gather to do business.”

The 2013 Cruise Shipping Miami event that concluded March 14 saw another memorable year.

With a record 11,000 attendees from 136 countries and more than 900 exhibitors from 123 countries -including 93 first-timers- the three-day exhibition covered all four halls of the Miami Beach Convention Centre.

The four-day conference program featured a series of 26 sessions and panel discussions on a revamped schedule that provided more time for networking and visiting the trade show.

The response from exhibitors was overwhelmingly positive, according to Read, with more than 40 percent noting they signed new business during the show.

“The show offers a lot of networking opportunities,” said Valerie Conan, cruise director for the Le Havre Tourist Board.

“Thanks to CSM, year by year and step by step I have built relationships with key people of the cruise industry.”

Delegates, exhibitors and cruise executives offered enthusiastic feedback.