Business and Relationship Building in High Gear at FCCA’s Seatrade Cruise Global Events

Miami Beach, FL (March 17, 2016) – Networking and promotion opportunities were in high gear at Seatrade Cruise Global, and the FCCA helped its members reach top speed through a series of events to develop understanding and relationships between them and key cruise executives from FCCA’s 19 Member Lines.

“The FCCA maximized time and opportunities during this busy week,” said Micky Arison, chairman, Carnival Corporation and the FCCA. “Time becomes extremely limited, and the FCCA made it possible to meet with some of the industry’s most important stakeholders throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, helping us work synergistically to improve cruise tourism in the region.”

“Our meetings and events made it possible for our partners to optimize the cruise executives gathered for Seatrade Cruise Global,” said Michele Paige, president, FCCA. “We pride ourselves in bringing executives and stakeholders together to discuss crucial operational issues and develop relationships that pave the way for future business and mutual success.”  

Throughout the event, a series of meetings took place between FCCA Member Line executives and destinations’ private and public sectors, including a meeting between FCCA Member Line CEOs and FCCA partner destinations’ ministers of tourism.

The FCCA also hosted numerous exclusive networking receptions throughout the event for its Platinum Members to target the attending executives from the FCCA’s 19 Member Lines, who decide where ships call, what to sell onboard and how to invest in products and infrastructure.

Those decision makers—including Arison, Adam Goldstein, president & COO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.; Karl Holz, president, Disney Cruise Line; Richard Sasso, president & CEO, MSC Cruises (USA) Inc.; and Andy Stuart, president & COO, Norwegian Cruise Line—were on-hand for the open-registration 22nd annual FCCA Gala, which welcomed more than 400 attendees looking to improve their cruise tourism business.

After a 90-minute reception and silent art auction with the entire audience, attendees sat down with their pre-selected cruise executive for a private dinner with a side of product promotion, relationship building and business development.

“The FCCA Gala facilitated networking between Member Line executives and cruise tourism stakeholders, while contributing to a good cause—the FCCA Foundation,” said Paige. “Of course it is benefitting to link these parties and help develop business and understanding, but the true reward comes form aiding citizens from the Caribbean and Latin America.”

All proceeds benefitted the FCCA Foundation, the non-profit, charitable organization that funds humanitarian causes in the Caribbean and Latin America. Recently, more than 7,000 underprivileged children had something to celebrate because one of the Foundation’s annual events, the Holiday Gift Project, delivering presents, festivities and smiles.

Both the Gala and FCCA Foundation’s efforts were possible because of Port Everglades, the Featured Event Sponsor; Canaveral Port Authority, the Partner Sponsor; Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, the Reception Sponsor; and Park West Gallery, whose contribution and assistance gave the silent art auction a voice.