Grant Holmes

VP Global Cruise & Superyacht Sectors at Inchcape Shipping Services

Speaker

Based out of Dubai, Grant Holmes spearheads the Inchcape global “Cruise Solutions” team, overseeing 10,000+ cruise calls per year, serving cruise ships across the world’s largest port agency network, with up to 300 own offices, extending coverage to over 800+ ports with its valuable Business Partners many of which are exclusive. Under Grant’s leadership, Inchcape also provides consultancy, dry docking, shore excursions, ground handling, surveying, crew logistics and bunkering services on a worldwide scale.

Grant’s career started in Shipbuilding at HMS Dockyard in Portsmouth, where he completed master craftsman apprenticeship. His passion for travel transported him on a journey to Spain in 1986 to work in leisure and tourism. After a series of fast performance-based promotions by 1990 he was given the responsibility of Area Manager for the Caribbean gateway of a leading UK Tour Operator.

With 20+ years of cruise industry experience, Grant’s first taste of cruising activity started when he directed operations for First Choice Cruises from its inception in 1999. He was later hired by Festival Cruises in 2000 for the role of Director of global shore excursions,destination services, tour operations and on-board revenue until 2004, where he managed a 110 million euro budget and innovated new cruising concepts.

In 2006, Grant founded Progress International, a company that provided cruise consultancy for 12 Cruise Lines and training services for major cruise line brands, governments and port authorities. Over 75,000 Cruise Industry Crew went through the training courses that Grant created with an original methodology. Progress International successfully conducted studies and provided strategic consultancy services for multiple emerging destinations including but not limited to Venezuela, Colombia, Cyprus, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

Today Grant also leads all cruise destination consultancy and engagement activities on behalf of Inchcape for tourism authorities and ports with a past/present portfolio including but not limited to Qatar, Bahrain, Ras al Khaimah, Vanilla Islands (Mauritius, Reunion, Madagascar, Seychelles, Comoros & Mayotte), Kenya, Zanzibar, India, Panama, Greece, Indonesia, Chile, Ecuador and various entities in Dubai.