Following its successful stand at last autumn’s World Travel Market in London, the UNITED RIVERS Group with headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, is now exhibiting for the first time at the ITB in Berlin. With over 100 passenger ships under management – including its own ships – the Swiss company is a leading service provider in upmarket (river) cruise travel.
Competence on all waters
The companies of UNITED RIVERS offer so-called white label management services on all waterways. In other words, they operate ships for well-known names such as Avalon Waterways, nicko cruises or, most recently, for Seaside Collection. In addition, UNITED RIVERS ships can be chartered by international tour operators. As a third pillar, UNITED RIVERS has its own vessels for day cruises at popular tourist destinations such as London, Dresden and Cologne. Aditionally, these vessels server as floating venues and ideal platforms for the MICE segment.
The following UNITED RIVERS companies can be found at stand 112 in Kreuzfahrthalle 25:
STARLING FLEET – a versatile shipping company
STARLING FLEET has a diverse fleet of river cruise ships that can be chartered on European waters. The company is a white label provider and adapts the branding of exclusively booked ships to the corporate design of the respective tour operator. Currently, well-known brands currently chartering these ships on rivers in Europe include 1AVista, Titan Travel or DCS Touristik. Moreover, more than 30 river cruise ships of various sizes are available to charter from the shipping company with a choice of contractual models. The standard ranges from upper middle class to premium boats.
FLOATING VENUES – leading brands for excursions and events
Events held on the water are unparalleled and exclusive: Whether for a meeting, concert or product presentation, FLOATING VENUES ships provide the perfect setting against the changing backdrop of Europe’s most beautiful skylines. For example, imagine London by night, Dresden in the “heure bleue”, or Cologne at Carnival or during the major fashion shows – there is no end to the ideas and occasions for exclusive happenings. Just as varied is the type of ship – from the oldest fleet of paddle steamers to the first, ultra-modern electric event ship in the world on the River Thames.
FLOATING VENUES encompasses various brands under the UNITED RIVERS Group umbrella that are market leaders in the MICE, tour operating and allotment segments on inland waterways, including the professional organization of events:
KD (Köln-Düsseldorfer Deutsche Rheinschiffahrt)
Modern excursion and event ships for corporate and private events
Weiße Flotte Sachsen (Sächsische Dampfschifffahrt)
The largest and oldest fleet of paddle steamers in the world
Oceandiva
The first CO2-neutral floating venue.
Thames Luxury Charters
30 years of luxury elegance on the River Thames
River Advice – der Passagierschiffmanager auf dem Fluss
The River Advice Group is an independent ship management company that combines all white label services for European river navigation under one roof: management & consulting, ship management, crew management, deck & engine, catering & hospitality, safety & security, education & training, crew training, ship financing, charter placement, IT infrastructure, insurance management, new building & conversion consultancy.
Ocean Advice – auf den sieben Weltmeeren zuhause
Ocean Advice is on the high seas what River Advice is on inland waterways. Under the umbrella of UNITED RIVERS, the company provides deck & engine and hotel & catering management with its own crew. An experienced team of ocean ship management experts and service providers cover the entire spectrum of white label services for passenger ships on the ocean.
The visionary entrepreneur
Robert Straubhaar
UNITED RIVERS was the brainchild of a man from landlocked Switzerland. In 2004, Robert Straubhaar (*1961) from Oberschwanden near Brienz (BE) in the Bernese Oberland region founded River Advice AG, which is considered the nucleus of the UNITED RIVERS holding established in 2019. His career is a rags-to-riches story, working his way up from a sailor to become the successful businessman in European inland shipping. Straubhaar is main shareholder and Chairman of the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board. UNITED RIVERS has offices in Basel (Switzerland), Cologne and Dresden (Germany), Amsterdam and Arnhem (Netherlands), Limassol (Cyprus) and Luxembourg.
UNITED RIVERS – Facts & Figures
+ 100 ships under management
+ 2,500,000 overnight stays per year
+ 2,100,000 guests on day-trip vessels
+ 3,000 employees
+ 100 own landing stages