• 6 min de lectura
• 6 min de lectura
Valerie Conan has worked at promoting the French Atlantic port of Le Havre, her place of birth, as a cruise destination for more than three decades.
Her first role in 1992, when the cruise business was still a relatively new activity for the destination, was to set up a dedicated welcome area for cruise passengers.
From 1996 onwards she became increasingly involved in promoting Le Havre as a cruise destination and while responsible for the Tourist Office's visitor services department, cruise gradually became a much larger part of Conan's responsibilities.
By the middle of the 2000s her position had become entirely dedicated to cruise, first as Cruise Manager and later as Cruise Director, with responsibilities covering business development and marketing.
She also coordinated the Le Havre Cruise Club and worked closely with local and regional stakeholders.
In 2022, Conan joined GIP Le Havre Croisières, the organization set up to develop and operate the port's new cruise facilities.
Reflecting on her career, Conan told Seatrade Cruise News in an exclusive interview,"Seeing how cruise has contributed to putting the city on the map as an international tourist destination is a great achievement and today, people from all over the world arrive in Le Havre by cruise ship and discover the city, Normandy and the wider region."
She chose three highlights that shaped the port city's cruise engagement:
"First, we worked at an early stage to establish a clear identity for the destination. The 'Le Havre, Gateway to Paris' positioning helped make the city more visible internationally and gave cruise lines and their guests a clear understanding of its geographical and tourism advantages. At the same time, we increasingly highlighted Le Havre itself, its UNESCO-listed architecture, its links with Impressionism and its location on the Normandy coast.
"Second, I am proud to have seen the cruise infrastructure evolve. Facilities were progressively adapted as traffic grew and the expectations of cruise lines and passengers changed. This ultimately led to the major redevelopment of the Pointe de Floride area and the new cruise terminal facilities 'Le Havre Verrazzano Terminal Croisières' that have become a reality. It is particularly satisfying to see a project that has been discussed and developed over many years now taking shape.
"Third, I have always believed strongly in the importance of working through networks and building relationships. I have been actively involved over the years in Cruise Europe, French Atlantic Ports, CLIA, CruiseLab and the International Propeller Club. I have always enjoyed bringing people together, creating connections and finding opportunities to work collectively.
Through these networks, I have met people involved in virtually every aspect of the cruise industry. This gave me a much broader understanding of how the industry works and, perhaps most importantly, showed me how much can be achieved when ports, destinations, cruise lines and other partners work together."
Asked what was the most significant change she has seen, Conan quickly replied: "the transformation and professionalization of the cruise industry itself."
The cruise market has become much more diverse, she added. "When I started, cruise was still perceived as a relatively specialized form of tourism. Today, the passenger profile is much broader, in terms of age, socio-professional background and nationality, with the European market in particular having developed considerably.
"The cruise season has also expanded significantly. In our region, cruise has gradually moved from being mainly seasonal to becoming a much more extended activity, with calls now taking place throughout much of the year.
"I have also seen a major evolution in cruise port operations. The operational side has become increasingly sophisticated, with much stronger requirements in terms of passenger flows, turnaround operations, logistics, security and coordination between all the different stakeholders involved in a cruise call."
She called the introduction of shore power "a major evolution in the way cruise ports are designed and operated and reflects the growing importance of sustainability and the transition towards lower-emission cruise operations while in port."
And finally she talked about the development of relationships between cruise lines, ports and destinations. "These relationships have become much more structured and professional. There is now a much greater understanding that developing a successful cruise destination is a long-term process requiring close cooperation between all the different partners."
Attending Seatrade Cruise events in Miami, Europe and Asia have been an important part of Conan's professional life.
She called taking part in the Seatrade Cruise Academy in 2010 as a significant experience. "It gave me a much broader understanding of the cruise industry, its different players and the way the various parts of the business fit together. What I particularly enjoyed was meeting professionals from different parts of the industry and then seeing many of those relationships develop over the years."
She is also extremely proud of Le Havre being named "Destination of the Year" at the Seatrade Cruise Awards in 2017. "It was a real stepping stone for putting Le Havre further on the international cruise map and continuing the journey, with the development of new cruise facilities as one of the next major steps."
Her last Seatrade Cruise event representing Le Havre on the French Atlantic Ports' stand was at Seatrade Cruise Med in Las Palmas earlier this month.
The human side is so important, she added. "Over the years, I have seen people I first met as young professionals become senior executives, and I have built friendships and professional relationships that have lasted for decades." She also highlighted colleagues, some who worked she worked alongside for many years; "Their commitment and expertise have been an important part of the journey."
As an elected representative (deputy mayor) in her home municipality of Épouville, near Le Havre, she continue to be involved in local life. "I am responsible for communications, culture and events, so there will certainly be plenty to keep me busy!
"On a more personal level, my husband Gilbert and I are both passionate about cruising, so we will definitely continue to discover the world by ship." She is also looking forward to having more time for family and for everyday life.
"I am very fond of the beaches along the Alabaster Coast, so I intend to make the most of them whenever the weather allows. When it is cooler, I enjoy walking and exploring the Normandy countryside. In other words, I am not planning to stop being curious or travelling — I will simply have a little more freedom to choose when and where!"
