ONE of the top brass from giant cruise line Carnival will be the keynote speaker at an Echo-backed business conference.

Carnival Cruises executive vice-president Elaine Holt will deliver a speech entitled 'Standing out from the crowd' at the long-anticipated South Coast Business Works at the city's Novotel hotel in February.

Carnival play a major part in bringing visitors to the city. Her presentation will focus on customer service, branding and positioning against their competitors and and wil also explain why Southampton is a good place to be in business. .

Elaine has worked in various sectors of the transport industry, starting her career at British Airways before joining FirstGroup in 1998, working in a variety of senior roles in the company’s rail and bus divisions.

In 2009, Elaine was appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport as chief executive of Directly Operated Railways, subsequently becoming chairman of East Coast Railways. In 2011 she formed her own consultancy to provide strategic advice to the transport sector and was appointed a non-executive director to Highways England in 2013.

Two years ago Elaine joined Carnival UK as executive vice president guest experience, responsible for both the P&O Cruises and Cunard brands.

The Daily Echo event - which takes place on Wednesday, February 10 - will be the ultimate networking opportunity for established, high flying and up and coming companies from a full spectrum of services.

Leading solicitors Trethowans are returning as principal sponsors for the fourth year running alongside event partners Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and Destination Southampton.

Trethowans, which has offices in Southampton and Salisbury, recently merged with Dorset-based Dickinson Manser, boosting its turnover by £3m to £14m.

The new practice boasts 27 partners and more than 65 lawyers who will be combining their expertise to offer clients enhanced legal services.

Senior partner Simon Rhodes said: "We are delighted to be involved, along with The Daily Echo, in supporting Southampton Business as principle sponsors of Business Works for the fourth year running.

"A recent report cited Southampton as the sixth best city to live and work in the UK, this gives us ever more reason to come together to promote jobs and economic growth across the region.”

The event runs from 10am-4pm. Great rates on exhibitor packages are also available – simply call 023 8042 4872 or email businessworks@dailyecho.co.uk Visitors to the exhibition can register for free at dailyecho.co.uk/businessworks.