NOVEMBER 2018 • FOGHORN 5 LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR John Groundwater Consider bringing extra crew and staff so that you won’t miss a thing. Watch your email for important convention program updates. Ferry Conference An expanded Ferry Conference will be held during the PVA Annual Convention at MariTrends 2019 to provide a dynamic venue at which leading ferry operators—large and small, public and private—will gather and compare notes, share best practices and lessons learned.An extra hour has been added to the Ferry Conference schedule to allow attendees to thoroughly explore a range of current topics facing ferry operators. NEW Engine and Propulsion Forum Added PVA has added a new forum intended to showcase and explore emerging marine engines and propul- sion technologies. Without a doubt, technology related to engines and pro- pulsion technologies is evolving at a dramatic rate and changes in emissions, fuel and controls are being introduced almost daily. This new forum will assemble experts from leading PVAmember engine and propulsion companies to conduct in-depth discussions and deliver presentations on new and emerging technology. MariTrends 2019 Exhibit Floor The gathering place for the convention, the MariTrends 2019 exhibit hall will involve approximately 100 PVA member exhibitors. MariTrends 2019 exhibitors will showcase everything from marine electronics to engine technology; from shipbuilding to vessel design; from ticketing software to payment processing systems; from seating to interior design, and much more. MariTrends 2019 exhibitors are loyal PVAmembers who can assist you improve operations, solve problems and help you plan. Lunch and Learn Sessions The MariTrends 2019 exhibit hall will also be the site of a variety of small roundtable Lunch and Learn sessions which offer convention attendees an opportunity to have one-on-one conversations with experts on legal matters, marine insurance, mariner licensing and media relations. Exciting Backdrop of New Orleans The PVA Annual Convention at MariTrends 2019 is being held in the exciting city of New Orleans, which is home to a truly unique melting pot of culture, food and music. The good times really do roll in New Orleans, whether it is strolling down the famed Bourbon Street, PVA Annual Convention at MariTrends 2019 is Right Around the Corner Planning is well underway for the PVA Annual Convention at MariTrends 2019— scheduled January 17-20 in New Orleans, and from all indications it is shaping up to be an extremely exciting and informative event. When you combine an authoritative con- vention program, involving experts from industry and government, a continuously expanding MariTrends 2019 exhibit floor that will showcase a wide variety of products and services specifically for the passenger vessel operators, and convention attendees from every segment of the passenger vessel industry, you have an event that you will not want to miss. Exciting Convention Program To date, PVA has received dozens of suggestions from potential present- ers for education sessions through its Call for Presentations. These topic proposals cover sales and marketing, staffing and management, passenger vessel operations and new technology, government and federal regula- tory topics, and legal issues. Following are just a few of the topics that you can expect when you attend the PVA Annual Convention at MariTrends 2019: • Using Data and Analytics to Improve Your Marketing Outreach • Zero Emission and Hybrid Propulsion Systems • Solutions for Accepting Mobile Onboard Electronic Payments • What to Expect from the Coast Guard and the NTSB After an Accident • How to Work Effectively with the Media; Placing Stories and Quotes • How to Run an In-House Photo Operation • Preparing High School Youth for Maritime Careers • Managing Safety—From SIP to SMS • How to Grow Passengers Through Audience Segmentation • 2019 Digital Marketing Trends • Design Tips that Save Passenger Vessel Operators Money • Harnessing the Power: Using Batteries in Innovative Ways We expect to feature more than 70 educational sessions at the PVA Annual Convention at MariTrends 2019. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CONTINUED ON PAGE 38 2019