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Colleagues, Friends and Industry Partners, It’s a pleasure to invite you to attend the 35th Annual Interferry Conference, Navigating Through a New World Economy, scheduled for New York City from 3-6 October, 2010. The past year has definitely been challenging for the ferry industry. Now that the world’s economies are pulling out of recession it’s time to change our focus from survival to growth. As our conference speakers will demonstrate, the industry’s future is full of potential for forward-thinking companies that embrace service enhancements, new markets, technical innovation and mutually beneficial relationships. It is truly a great personal honor to be elected President of Interferry by my international colleagues and to host such a landmark event in my hometown. This year marks the 35th anniversary of Interferry, which began life as the International Marine Transit Association (IMTA) and was first registered in the State of New York. |
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It is a unique organization that provides opportunities for members to broaden their horizons, learn from the experience of operators from around the world and enjoy the camaraderie of those who share our unique profession. We're planning some special events to mark this anniversary and celebrate the people who have contributed to building our association. Conference plans are shaping up well. The conference will be held at the Marriott Hotel at the Brooklyn Bridge, just across the East River from lower Manhattan. If you’ve never been to Brooklyn, or haven’t visited for a while, I think you’ll be amazed by the diversity of its neighborhoods, dining and people – which start right outside the hotel. Wall Street, Chinatown or Tribeca are a short walk over the Brooklyn Bridge; and Times Square, Midtown and Central Park are a short cab or subway ride away. Our social events and tours will really show you New York - the revitalized waterways, bustling streets, incredible museums, Broadway theatres and the unique ambiance of the “City that never sleeps”. They’re designed to let you experience New York like the locals do, rather than just focusing on the usual tourist attractions. We plan to spend a lot of time on the water. Following in the footsteps of a wonderful tour of IDO’s incredible ferry system in Istanbul, delegates and guests will have an opportunity to explore our City’s ferry system. You’ll get a behind the scenes look at the Staten Island Ferry and visit the new public terminals where bus, rail, auto and pedestrian connections allow 100,000 people to use our ferry system each day. As a special treat, the post conference tour will be aboard the magnificent Queen Mary 2 as she sails from Brooklyn on October 7th for a 5-day cruise to Halifax and Boston. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, and still live and work in the borough. I am very excited to invite you to join us in celebrating 35 years of Interferry and look forward to welcoming you to experience our great City and its magnificent harbor. Tom Fox
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