GPH on Ramping up Global Presence and Ambitions for Luxury Concierge Service

Global Ports Holding will focus on developing cruise ports in key regions around the world and improving safety, security, and ESG standards, the company’s chairman and CEO Mehmet Kutman told Seatrade Cruise – before hinting at the rollout of a ‘white glove’ concierge service for luxury cruise lines’ passengers.

GPH’s priority is the Far East, followed by the Mexican Riviera and the Caribbean, explained Kutman, as he discussed potential new markets. ‘But the Far East is absolutely crucial,’ he added, including countries India and Malaysia.

Discussions with Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries for potential expansion in the Red Sea are ongoing, while opportunities in Africa are still in the early stages of being explored.

In 2024 alone, GPH assumed operations at the Ports of San Juan, Saint Lucia and Liverpool and is set to take over operations at Bremerhaven and Casablanca in the coming months.

The company is also working on expanding shore power capabilities at ports in the Mediterranean and Caribbean.

Moving into private ownership

The ambitious plans follow GPH’s delisting from the London Stock Exchange earlier this year, marking a new chapter for the world’s largest cruise port operator, which today handles 32 ports in 19 countries, providing services to over 20m passengers.

While the move had been under review since 2019, the plan was set in motion post-pandemic once share prices stabilised. ‘The pandemic made it unfair to minority shareholders to delist at that time,’ the chairman stated.?

The determination to delist was driven by high costs associated with being a public company – including legal fees – and the need to disclose important information prematurely, as well as make announcements on the company’s quarterly performance.

‘This way is much better, because we're able to execute our strategy to develop new cruise ports,’ whereas ‘listed, we had to disclose everything from day one, which is not a good thing until we close a transaction.’

Plus, according to Kutman, other benefits of being a private company include increased flexibility, faster decision-making and smoother operations: ‘The cost associated with being public is pretty horrendous… to be a private company is much easier, smoother, faster and more flexible.’

Greatest challenge

In cooperation with cruise lines, tour agents and cities, GPH aspires to ‘reshape the industry’ to make cruising more sustainable.

‘The challenge is not with our ports. The challenge is with passengers visiting a city to take tours,’ said Kutman. Especially in Europe, ‘there are lots of complaints when you get two, three or four ships [calling simultaneously].’

Plans are now afoot to resolve GPH’s ‘biggest challenge for the upcoming years.’

Continued Kutman, ‘What we're trying to do is integrate the disembarkation of passengers taking daily tours with the city and the municipality to ensure the crowd is not in one, two or three places, but dispersed over 100 places.

‘We have a special team now concentrating on this, ensuring that there is no complaint from the local community in cities like Barcelona and Venice… There wouldn't be such a need in the Caribbean, because these destinations are very tourism-dependent, but in Europe, it’s becoming a serious issue.’

High-end service for premium guests

In addition to these goals and initiatives, Kutman is personally working on plans to establish a concierge service for passengers sailing with luxury cruise lines. ‘There's lots of luxury brands being launched and these guys, obviously and rightfully, charge quite a lot per cabin or per passenger.’

For those prestigious guests, a white glove service will be available and ‘everything will be completely different for those high-end luxury ships,’ Kutman added.

Operational excellence

All future GPH port terminals are set to be environmentally friendly and operate via clean energy.? This year saw the port operator open a new sustainable cruise terminal at the Port of Tarragona and launch shore power at Valletta Cruise Port plc – the first shore power facility in the Mediterranean.

Meanwhile, preliminary studies for shore power have been conducted in Kusadasi & Bodrum, whose terminals are expected to significantly reduce their carbon footprint by the end of 2024 through the installation of solar panels. In the Americas, efforts are underway in Nassau to activate shore power in 2025 and Antigua is exploring both LNG provisions and shore power.

While GPH is committed to promoting sustainability, safety remains its number one priority. ‘We cannot make a mistake. Safety, security, ESG and operational excellence are crucial,’ asserted Kutman.

Asked to pinpoint GPH’s greatest success, Kutman replied, ‘being a family – that's very important to me. It’s one of the reasons why I wanted the company to go private. To me, that's the greatest success of the last 10-20 years.’

Original Article: https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/people-opinions/gph-on-ramping-up-global-presence-and-ambitions-for-luxury-concierge-service

Auther: Holly Payne