Latest news with #GerryLarsson-Fedde
Travel Weekly
20-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
A sustainability premium is a tough sell -- but what about Gen Z?
Teri West When I explored the question of whether cruisers, particularly in the expedition and luxury market, would be willing to pay a sustainability-related premium, the answer I received was, essentially, "no." Cruise executives and advisors who specialize in these products told me that while customers may care about sustainability, the destination itself and the price are still their primary concerns. If one line was to charge an extra fee for sustainable efforts, it could lose customers to a competitor, they said. But that story may change in the decades to come, as younger generations mature, grow their wealth and start talking with their money. "I have a 19-year-old daughter who's my youngest one, and she has a complete different focus on environment and sustainability than I ever had at that age," Hurtigruten COO Gerry Larsson-Fedde told me. "And that's the generation that's coming. That's the generation that will be our guests in the future. And we really need to be prepared for that." Studies have for years documented the way Generation Z consumers think about the environment when they shop. Capital One reported in March that a little more than half of Gen Z shoppers are more likely to choose a product based on its sustainability than its brand name. The comparable rates for Gen X and Baby Boomers were 11% and 20%. When asked whether they would be willing to pay more for sustainable products, 73% of Gen Z respondents answered "yes" in a 2019 study conducted by consumer data analyst First Insight. That's a higher rate than any other generation; just 55% of Gen X respondents and 42% of Baby Boomers had the same answer. But that was six years ago, you say. Consider this: In the same study conducted two years later, the rate had continued to increase for every other generation -- but especially for Gen X, which surged to a 78% willingness to pay more. There is less data available about whether and how younger travelers prioritize sustainable travel, but what is available shows many are thinking about the Earth when taking trips. For example, half of the students surveyed for StudentUniverse's State of Student Travel in 2024 report said they prioritize booking with companies that have strong environmental credentials. Of course, the desire to prioritize the environment doesn't always align with how Gen Z shops in practice. Fast fashion, for example, is still popular; 72% of college students reported shopping a fast-fashion chain in a 2022, according to a report published by ThredUp. But fast-fashion products are also amongst the most affordable for building a wardrobe. In 10, 20 or 30 years, we could expect the wallets of those then-college students to be more robust and, perhaps, discerning. There is already a sector of people unwilling to cruise because of the industry's environmental impact, said Gari Senderoff polar travel specialist with Cruise Planners. "And let's face it," he told me, "Nobody really, absolutely needs to cruise. People need to fly, but no, this is a luxury that nobody really needs." If upcoming generations continue to prioritize lowering their environmental impact, the industry could lose out on more customers who choose to put the environment first. Or it could work proactively. "You can't start in 20 years," Larsson-Fedde said. "We need to start now."
Scottish Sun
07-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Inside incredible plan for world's tallest cruise ship with enormous 164ft SAILS that will hit water by 2030
The ship will glide through the water on a thin layer of air SEA BEHEMOTH Inside incredible plan for world's tallest cruise ship with enormous 164ft SAILS that will hit water by 2030 Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NEW plans for the world's tallest cruise ship have been released - and it looks like something from the future. Norwegian boat builders Hurtigruten say the vessel, complete with electrical sails and a mega battery, should hit the seas by the end of the decade. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Sea Zero will have retractable sails covered in solar panels Credit: VARD DESIGN 6 Manufacturer Hurtigruten hopes the cruise ship will be afloat by 2030 Credit: VARD DESIGN 6 The sails can be lowered and raised as needed Credit: Vard 6 Hurtigruten set out to make travel more sustainable - and hopes that this huge boat can tour the seas producing net-zero emissions. The ultimate goal is for the boat to be powered solely by battery. Trond Johnsen, the project manager, said: "With the reduction in energy use we're aiming for, it's realistic to fit a battery system with enough energy to allow the ship to sail between charging ports under normal weather conditions." Four battery-hybrid ships built by Hurtigruten's already sail the seas, but they all need supplementing with fuel. The new project, dubbed Sea Zero, kicked off in October 2022, and the first set of plans were seen in summer 2023. One of the coolest features is the boat's sails, which can be raised and lowered as required, and will be covered in solar panels. The kind being developed are called OceanWings - already in use on the cargo ship called Canopée. The Chief Operating Officer Gerry Larsson-Fedde said: "We have also changed the sail type to a more mature design already in use on cargo ships. "As with all development projects, there will be adjustments to both the design and specifications along the way."# The most recent plans extend the length of the ship by eight metres, to a total 143.5m. World's largest cargo ship as tall as a SKYSCRAPER launched by China Another very intriguing feature is the "lubricated" hull. Air bubbles will be pumped beneath the bottom of the boat to make it glide through the water more easily and reduce drag. This means less fuel will be require to propel the ship along. The hull will also be cleaned regularly and fitted with "advanced anti-fouling coatings" to make it slip through the waves even more smoothly. 6 A 'lubricated' hull will let the boat slip through the water more easily Credit: VARD DESIGN 6 It will be driven along by contra-rotating propellers Credit: Vard Guests onboard will have a highly customisable experience. Living in 'smart cabins', passengers will be able to control their own heating and ventilation through an app and a screen in the cabin. Larsson-Fedde said: 'We are already testing advanced sensors in these cabins, and in the near future, we will conduct full-scale tests with guests onboard." Another ocean whopper has already been launched by China - which revealed its new monster-sized cargo ship. The 1,310-ft-long vessel is said to be capable of holding a whopping 220,000 tonnes of goods and stacking 24,000 containers. Footage shows the monstrous vessel - built in just 17 months - ripping through the ocean. And another cruise option will soon hit the market, but designed specifically for OAPs. Shipbuilder Meyer Werft has spotted a huge gap in the cruise market and filled it with 'Serenity' - a vessel made exclusively for the elderly, with assisted living suites. This cruise ship concept looks ahead to an ageing population - and what cruising might look like in the year 2100.
The Irish Sun
07-05-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Inside incredible plan for world's tallest cruise ship with enormous 164ft SAILS that will hit water by 2030
NEW plans for the world's tallest cruise ship have been released - and it looks like something from the future. Norwegian boat builders Hurtigruten say the vessel, complete with electrical sails and a mega battery, should hit the seas by the end of the decade. 6 Sea Zero will have retractable sails covered in solar panels Credit: VARD DESIGN 6 Manufacturer Hurtigruten hopes the cruise ship will be afloat by 2030 Credit: VARD DESIGN 6 The sails can be lowered and raised as needed Credit: Vard 6 Hurtigruten set out to make travel more sustainable - and hopes that this huge boat can tour the seas producing net-zero emissions. The ultimate goal is for the boat to be powered solely by battery. Trond Johnsen, the project manager, said: "With the reduction in energy use we're aiming for, it's realistic to fit a battery system with enough energy to allow the ship to sail between charging ports under normal weather conditions." Four battery-hybrid ships built by Hurtigruten's already sail the seas, but they all need supplementing with fuel. READ MORE IN WORLD NEWS The new project, dubbed Sea Zero, kicked off in October 2022, and the first set of plans were seen in summer 2023. One of the coolest features is the boat's sails, which can be raised and lowered as required, and will be covered in solar panels. The kind being developed are called OceanWings - already in use on the cargo ship called Canopée. The Chief Operating Officer Gerry Larsson-Fedde said: "We have also changed the sail type to a more mature design already in use on cargo ships. Most read in The Sun "As with all development projects, there will be adjustments to both the design and specifications along the way."# The most recent plans extend the length of the ship by eight metres, to a total 143.5m. World's largest cargo ship as tall as a SKYSCRAPER launched by China Another very intriguing feature is the "lubricated" hull. Air bubbles will be pumped beneath the bottom of the boat to make it glide through the water more easily and reduce drag. This means less fuel will be require to propel the ship along. The hull will also be cleaned regularly and fitted with "advanced anti-fouling coatings" to make it slip through the waves even more smoothly. 6 A 'lubricated' hull will let the boat slip through the water more easily Credit: VARD DESIGN 6 It will be driven along by contra-rotating propellers Credit: Vard Guests onboard will have a highly customisable experience. Living in 'smart cabins', passengers will be able to control their own heating and ventilation through an app and a screen in the cabin. Larsson-Fedde said: 'We are already testing advanced sensors in these cabins, and in the near future, we will conduct full-scale tests with guests onboard." Another ocean whopper has already been launched by China - which revealed its new The 1,310-ft-long vessel is said to be capable of holding a whopping 220,000 tonnes of goods and stacking 24,000 containers. Footage shows the monstrous vessel - built in just 17 months - ripping through the ocean. And another cruise option will soon hit the market, but designed specifically for OAPs. Shipbuilder Meyer Werft has spotted a huge gap in the cruise market and filled it with 'Serenity' - a This cruise ship concept looks ahead to an ageing population - and what cruising might look like in the year 2100.
