Supply Chain World Volume 10, Issue 3 Volume 10, Issue 3 | Page 42

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As James explains , those working in procurement and supply chain must harness a multi-layered approach , utilizing emerging digital tools , data management , and real time actional insights . In doing so , companies can better respond to the increasingly connected and complex global supply chain .
“ I see my role at Royal Caribbean Group as a joy and a privilege ,” admits James . “ For work , I get to coach and enable the next generation of supply chain leaders within our organization , building the most resilient , sustainable , and efficient value chain in the industry .
“ But it takes the entire value chain to deliver on our mission ,” he adds . “ One example of this is our recent one-week suppliers conference , where we invited 400 of our 10,000 suppliers to focus on our growth path , and to connect them directly to the products and services that enhance our guests ’ experiences .”
Royal Caribbean Group has a rich history . It was founded in 1968 by hospitality entrepreneur Ed Stephan and a trio of Norwegian ship owners : Sigurd Skaugen , Anders Wilhemsen , and Gotaas Larsen .
Just two years later , the company ’ s first ship , Song of Norway , set sail on her maiden voyage from Miami . With time – and plenty of hard work – the ships got bigger and bigger .
Considered the mega-ship of the modern cruising era , Sovereign of the Seas left port and , at the same time , broke new ground in the industry , in 1988 . At the time it was staggering but , as with most world firsts , fast forward a couple of decades and the bar will have inevitably risen .
Oasis of the Seas , which Royal Caribbean Group launched in 2009 , weighs in at an eye-watering 225,282 tons with the capacity to carry over 5000 passengers . It was the single largest cruise ship the world had ever seen .
As it stands , Royal Caribbean Group has a fleet of 63 ships travelling to approximately 1000 worldwide destinations . It is the owner and operator of three award-winning cruise brands : Royal Caribbean International , Celebrity Cruises , and Silversea Cruises , as well as being a 50 percent owner of a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises .
“ Our fleet consists of everything from the world ’ s largest ships in the Royal Caribbean International brand to our smallest ship , Celebrity Xploration , which carries just 16 guests in the Galapagos Islands ,” James details .
“ Royal Caribbean International offers multi-generational-focused travel ,
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