Lufthansa’s Head of Cabin Interiors and Eurostar’s Head of Onboard Services lead the line-up at the Cabin Innovation & Strategies for the Future Conference. This new conference takes place on Monday 26 March at the Hamburg Messe, the day before Aircraft Interiors Expo and its sister show World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo open.

The day begins with design and innovation company Seymourpowell looking at some of the critical trends shaping passenger expectations in the future – particularly in terms of design and customer service.

A panel discussion will debate how astute airlines can take advantage of standardisation while still differentiating their brands. The panel includes Peter Lewalter, Head of Cabin Interior & IFE at Lufthansa and Dr Mark Hiller, COO of Recaro Aircraft Seating. A senior executive from Airbus will also be participating.

In the afternoon the conference splits into two streams. The inflight entertainment and connectivity stream will be chaired by Michael Childers, Chief Consultant Content & Media Strategy at Lufthansa Systems. Sessions will cover areas such as how to create an engaging passenger experience as well as a panel discussion on how airlines can evolve their passenger entertainment strategies to maximise both cost-effectiveness as well as the all-important impact on the passengers themselves.

The second stream focuses on catering and onboard hospitality, reflecting Aircraft Interiors Expo’s co-location with the World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo this year. Here Arnaud Masson, Head of Onboard Services at Eurostar International, and Brett Proud, Executive Vice President of New Markets and Products at GuestLogix, will be debating future service options that travel customers will want to buy into.

John Hyde, Exhibition Director of Aircraft Interiors Expo, said: “We are covering a range of topics that we feel the whole industry can really get its teeth into; I’m looking forward to hearing some lively debate as well as learning about the future trends passengers might expect to see in the cabin in years to come.”

The conference will be held in the A Halls (central entrance) at the Hamburg Messe and is free to attend for all airline and media delegates. For other delegates there is a flat €100 rate.