Costa Crociere is expanding its presence in the Benelux countries and in Emilia Romagna. In December 2002, the Genoese company will open one new commercial office in Bologna and one in Brussels, with the aim of significantly strengthening its development on the European market and promoting the Costa trademark in the Benelux countries and in Emilia Romagna. Costa’s new office in Brussels, which is due to open officially towards the end of 2002, will be in charge of sales and promotion of Costa cruises in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. It will be managed by Patrick J. Pourbaix, with his assistants Aurelie Vermeulen, responsible for the French-speaking market, and Eveline Vanderstraeten, responsible for the Flemish-speaking market.