Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA)

Pembroke Pines, FL (April 16, 2014) -The FCCA Conference & Trade Show-taking place in St. Maarten from October 6-10, 2014-is one of the best places and opportunities to interact face-to-face with cruise line presidents and CEOs during a four-day series of meetings, workshops, social functions and more.

FCCA Member Line presidents and CEOs, along with about 100 cruise executives who decide where ships go and what is sold onboard, will gather with cruise tourism stakeholders from all of its sectors-destination governments, port authorities, tour operators and anyone else looking to optimize their share of cruise tourism's benefits.

The presidents and CEOs will play a vital role throughout the event, leading a roundtable discussion to grant insight into the industry's and their lines' latest and upcoming developments; attending social functions and the Trade Show to mingle with attendees and exhibitors; and participating in meetings with destination ministers.

Throughout the event's 20-year history, FCCA Member Line presidents and CEOs have been vital to the event's success and upholding its tenet to promote understanding and synergy between the cruise lines and destinations' private and public sectors. Their consistency and dedication can be seen in the continued status of the FCCA Executive Committee's original members. Two of the original Executive Committee members-Micky Arison, chairman, Carnival Corporation and Rick Sasso, president & CEO, MSC Cruises (USA), Inc.-are still in place. In fact, they were both crucial to developing the Conference, with Rick as the Executive Committee Chairman for the first seven events and Micky following him for the next 10.

The FCCA is now fortunate enough to have Kevin Sheehan, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line, in this position to provide his support and attendance, and Adam Goldstein, president & COO of Royal Caribbean Cruises LTD., and Karl Holz, president of Disney Cruise Line, also serve on the Executive Committee and participate in FCCA functions like the Conference & Trade Show.

This involvement and persistence by some of the cruise industry's key decision makers like the presidents, CEOs and cruise executives from the lines' numerous sectors have turned the FCCA Conference & Trade Show into what it is today-one of the best ways to directly target the cruise industry, with nearly one cruise executive per 10 attendees, and maximize its benefits.

Created in 1972, the FCCA is a not-for-profit trade organization that provides a forum for discussion on tourism development, ports, safety, security, and other cruise industry issues and builds bilateral relationships with destinations’ private and public sectors. By fostering an understanding of the cruise industry and its operating practices, the FCCA works with governments, ports and private sector representatives to maximize cruise passenger, crew and cruise line spending, as well as enhance the destination experience and increase the amount of cruise passengers returning as stay-over visitors. For more information, visit F-CCA.com and @FCCAupdates on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.