Key Cruise Line Executives and Industry Stakeholders Gather to Improve Business at FCCA PAMAC Conference
New Orleans, LA. (June 23, 2016) Improving cruise tourism business is easier than ever in the Big Easy. More than 150 attendees, including FCCA Platinum Members-key cruise tourism stakeholders-and over 30 high-ranking executives from the FCCA's 19 Member Lines, have gathered in New Orleans for the FCCA Platinum Associate Membership Advisory Council (PAMAC) Conference.
Kicking off yesterday and continuing until tomorrow, the three-day event features a series of meetings, workshops and networking events to discuss industry trends and standards and develop relationships and mutual benefits for the cruise lines and members' companies and destinations.
"FCCA events like the PAMAC Conference are essential to both the members and cruise line representatives," said Micky Arison, chairman of Carnival Corporation & plc and the FCCA. "They gather some of the industry's most influential decision makers with significant stakeholders from the Caribbean and Latin America, which leads to positive developments for all parties."
"The FCCA PAMAC Conference is fostering more mutual growth for Platinum Members and Member Line executives," said Michele Paige, president, FCCA. "Bringing together these two parties lets them better understand each other, along with all current happenings and offerings, in order to synergistically grow and improve."
The PAMAC Conference has sparked this synergy through one-on-one meetings between Platinum Members and executives of their choice; presentations of Platinum Members' latest developments for the executives and other members to learn about and from; and networking functions between members and executives, including sit-down dinners cooking up business relationships.
Plus, executives gave some presentations of their own to promote mutual benefits with the Platinum Members. Andy Stuart, president and COO, Norwegian Cruise Line, discussed cruise line destination development; Christine Duffy, president, Carnival Cruise Line, presented 'Carnival and New Orleans: Beyond Business'; and Giora Israel, SVP, Global Port & Destination Development Group, Carnival Corp. & plc, spoke on the opportunities and challenges connected to Cuba's opening.
This event is one of many that the FCCA coordinates for its Platinum Members and Member Lines to stay at the forefront of information about both the industry and members' companies and destinations, while finding ways to maximize the benefits for all.
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.
