Convergence 2024 by Ferretti Group: in Madrid to focus on the future of yachting

Madrid, city of art, food and fun, plays host to the seventeenth edition of Convergence, the eagerly awaited event that brings together over 130 captains and chief engineers of Ferretti Group ships and yachts, plus technical partners and experts who take the total number of participants to over 200. The three-day professional development event, starting today and running until March 8, also includes training and team-building sessions. After the success of the high-altitude 2023 edition in Courmayeur, at the foot of Mont Blanc, the stage is now set for discussion and training sessions on various subjects, with the aim of analysing the new developments in the industry that also affect individual professionals.

“Convergence is an event with an increasingly high profile, offering the ideal opportunity to take stock of global trends and new developments in the yachting industry. The event’s popularity and attendance numbers keep growing, underscoring the passion and hard work of our captains and chief engineers. The 2024 event will discuss innovation, artificial intelligence and new technologies, all vitally important areas in which we are investing as a way to offer the owners of our yachts an increasingly unique and rewarding cruising experience,” said Stefano de Vivo, Ferretti Group Chief Commercial Officer.

Also for this edition, main sponsors MAN, Mtu, Rina, Sleipner, Volvo Penta and Xenta will make a high-calibre contribution to the event as always, along with technical sponsors Amare Group, Asea Power System, F.lli Canalicchio and Simrad.

The event gets under way today with an opening speech by Stefano de Vivo, Ferretti Group Chief Commercial Officer, who will give participants an up-to-date financial overview and present new models, current projects and the innovations the Group is working on, followed by the customary welcome dinner.

Day two, Wednesday March 6, will be devoted to training, with two workshops attended by partners and professionals of international standing. The speakers at the morning session, entitled “Artificial Intelligence: what impact will new developments in information technology have on the yachting world?”, will be Blaz Zupan - Professor of AI and Machine Learning at Ljubljana University, Luigi Spagna - Sales Director and Founder at Data Self Service, and Brandon Kertesz - Digital Business Development Manager at main sponsor Rina Maxima.

There will be a more technical focus in the afternoon with the workshop “The new frontiers of surfaces: advanced finishing, better protection and simpler manufacturing”, with the participation of Paul Bournas, Managing Partner at CCS - Coating Consulting Service, Alessandro Boaroli, Technical and Training Manager Italy & Special Segments at PPG, Edoardo D’Ambrosio, Sales Manager Northern Italy at D’Ambrosio SRL and Claire Steel, Director and Founder at Cerashield. Supporting the training sessions again this year will be an interactive app to give feedback and ask questions in real time, anonymously if they wish, which is invaluable in encouraging participation in the panel discussions.