Eurostar’s Head of Onboard Services and Lufthansa’s Head of Cabin Interiors 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 World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo and its sister show Aircraft Interiors 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 first covers catering and onboard hospitality. 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 the future service options that travel consumers will want to buy into. Other topics that will be addressed include how to meet changing expectations of friendliness and service and a future-looking session entitled A new vision for comfort – lessons from the hospitality industry.

The second stream focuses on inflight entertainment and connectivity – reflecting World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo’s co-location with Aircraft Interiors Expo this year. This will be chaired by Michael Childers, Chief Consultant Content & Media Strategy at Lufthansa Systems. Sessions will include areas such as how to create an engaging passenger experience.

John Hyde, Exhibition Director of World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo, said: “Our first conference is covering a range of topics that we feel the whole travel catering and hospitality industry can benefit from; I’m looking forward to hearing some lively debate as well as learning about the future trends passengers might expect to see on their flights, train trips and cruise holidays 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, rail and cruise operators as well as media delegates.