Platinum Members Reap Benefits of
FCCA Associate Membership

The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association’s Platinum Associate Membership Advisory Council (PAMAC) met with top cruise executives from the FCCA’s 11 Member Lines at this year’s eighth Annual FCCA Caribbean Cruise Conference and Trade Show, October 2-5, 2001 in Aruba.

Platinum Associate Members were invited to an exclusive luncheon on October 4, 2001 at the Hostaria Da’ Vittorio Ristorante Italiano - Aruba. Micky Arison, Chairman & CEO, Carnival Corporation and FCCA’s Chairman, along with Michael Ronan, the FCCA’s Security Operations Committee Chairman, and Associate VP, Destination Development, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., were on hand to congratulate Accessible Adventures Inc. as the FCCA’s newest Platinum Associate Member.

“I was fortunate to sit across from Micky to discuss the industry and get his thoughts on the big picture. It is not often that you can get to exchange thoughts and ideas with people as successful and knowledgeable about the industry as Micky, especially their views on how it will affect our own destination. It was great to be able to share the challenges and opportunities with fellow Platinum Members who are the people who best understand the industry and how to cope with the recent changes,” said Richard McCombe, Managing Director, Jacharic Holdings Ltd and FCCA Platinum Member as he describes his experience at the luncheon. Robert Giangrisostomi, Deputy Executive Director, Business Development, Canaveral Port Authority, explains how the Membership Program has helped his business. “The Platinum Associate Membership Program of the FCCA has been a tremendous benefit to Port Canaveral and has contributed to the overall success of our Port as a world class destination for the cruise industry. The support and participation by the FCCA Member Lines and their top executives during various meetings and forums encourages unique business relationships that help the cruise industry grow together and build for the future. Especially now, I see an increasingly significant role for the Platinum Associate Membership Program in determining ways to meet the current challenges facing the entire industry.”

Later that evening, following the Conference closing party, the Platinum Associate Members were invited to join key executives from the FCCA’s Member Lines and Ministers throughout the Caribbean for a cocktail reception hosted by Micky Arison and his lovely wife Madeline, aboard Carnival Cruise Lines, Carnival Destiny. The Carnival Destiny, due in Aruba on Friday, was brought in early specifically for this occasion. The ship met with much fanfare as the Aruba Ports Authority arranged for an elaborate fireworks display to greet the early arriving vessel.

To conclude a memorable week, all Associate Members were presented with a final opportunity to once again interacted with Cruise Executives and Ministers on the Carnival Destiny, for a fabulous brunch as farewells were said and plans for next years’ Conference in Cancun, Mexico, September 24-27, 2002 were discussed.

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