In advance of its much-anticipated Panamera launch, European luxury automobile manufacturer, Porsche, chartered Crystal Cruises’ award-winning Crystal Serenity for comprehensive training of more than 1800 worldwide dealers. The new Panamera automobile is Porsche’ first four-door, four-seat luxury sports car. Hundreds of subcontractors completely emptied Crystal Serenity’s deck areas and public rooms to make way for five cars and thousands of pounds of special equipment, furniture and exhibits for the intensive training in July.
Together with Crystal Cruises, Porsche and its event organizers planned three-day itineraries roundtrip from Barcelona for five groups of 350-400 international Porsche dealers. Crystal Serenity’s public rooms were converted to training centers where dealers could absorb all of the car’s specifications, including rooms devoted to its engine, brakes and sound system. Dealers then disembarked Crystal Serenity in Marseilles for hours of test driving to St. Tropez.
Crystal Serenity’s spaciousness and its breadth of public rooms was key to accommodating a project of this scope. An on deck program culminated with the unveiling of the new Panamera on deck. Hundreds of Crystal Serenity crew members assisted with the complex installations and alternative styles of food & beverage service for Porsche dealers, staff and subcontractors.
“This was the best executed event in years,” said Andreas Henke, General Manager Marketing Services. “The Crystal Cruises’ team was professional, flexible and always maintained a positive attitude. When you launch something as impressive and innovative as the Panamera and you have an educational project of this magnitude, you want to work with the best.”
“From start to finish, it was great to work with professionals at Porsche and their incredible team of event organizers,” said Thomas Mazloum, senior vice president, hotel operations. “It is extraordinary attention to detail that makes it all work from their operation and ours. Not only were our ship’s public rooms returned to normal, but the assembly was completed ahead of schedule. Now that’s teamwork.”
