Purchasing Initiative and CLIA Travel Agent Summit Added to FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show

Pembroke Pines, FL (May 24, 2016) - Suppliers and travel agents will have a prime opportunity to increase their business with the cruise industry because some of the new features at the 23rd annual FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show. Taking place in San Juan, Puerto Rico from September 26-30, the traditional series of one-on-one meetings, workshops and exhibiting and networking opportunities will be complemented by the Purchasing Initiative and an add-on travel agent event in partnership with Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
 
"The FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show has traditionally been one of the best ways for cruise tourism stakeholders and key cruise line decision makers to interact and develop mutual understanding and benefits," said Micky Arison, chairman of Carnival Corporation & plc and the FCCA. "These new features will broaden the scope to include more crucial sectors that help drive the cruise industry, leading to more successes for all."
 
"We could not be prouder to offer these new features at our keynote event, the FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show," said Michele Paige, president, FCCA. "It is always rewarding to watch this event continue to grow, but it is more gratifying to enhance our primary mission of developing bilateral relationships between the cruise industry and stakeholders to create win-win scenarios."
 
For anyone looking to supply products to cruise lines, the new Purchasing Initiative will put them direct to customer, with a booth within the first-ever Purchasing Pavilion, specialized one-on-one meetings and networking events with supply chain and purchasing cruise executives, and a workshop focused on sourcing and purchasing.

The Initiative represents the FCCA's efforts to strengthen its purchasing efforts within cruise destinations, under the direction of Michael Jones, vice president of supply chain management of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and chairman of the FCCA Purchasing Committee, who will participate at the event, meetings, and workshop along with a number of other procurement executives from the 19 FCCA Member Lines.
 
The Travel Agent/Destination Summit will gather more than 200 CLIA member travel agents at the tail end of the FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show, allowing them to target the more than 100 cruise executives that attended the event, learn from and about San Juan, and create synergies and opportunities with the other stakeholders participating in and exhibiting at the event.
 
"This event is a first for CLIA and offers our membership another opportunity to spend quality time with destination experts, experience ship inspections and learn from industry leaders," said Cindy D'Aoust, president and CEO, CLIA.
 
To register and/or learn more, please visit: www.regonline.com/fccapuertorico.