A ship glides calmly along the Danube, the surface of the water reflecting the golden light. On the horizon, the sunset colours the sky in warm shades of orange and red. An atmospheric moment between river, light and landscape.
A ship leisurely makes its way along the Danube, the water glistening in the evening light. The sky glows in the intense colours of the sunset. A peaceful scene that brings the day to an atmospheric close.

Steffen Spiegel

Speakers

Top-class speakers

inform and inspire with their contributions to the sustainable future of river cruising, particularly on the Danube.

Speaker tile Steffen Spiegel with name in white lettering and white compass logo on blue background.

Experience the Danube: Best practices from cruise and tourism research

Dr. Steffen Spiegel is a Professor of Tourism Management with a focus on water-based tourism. Since 2010, he has been teaching tourism-related courses and conducting research on sustainable tourism development and experience design. In his presentation, he combines his academic expertise with hands-on experience from his former role as a cruise director on both ocean and river cruises. He analyzes current trends in the cruise tourism sector, compares product and target group strategies between ocean and river cruises, and highlights how authentic experiences and sustainable concepts can strengthen tourism along the Danube – illustrated with best-practice examples from both research and real-world applications.