Cruise Executives and Industry Experts to Tell How to Increase Business at the FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show Workshops

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla., Oct. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Key cruise executives are one step closer to helping stakeholders improve their business with the cruise industry, as workshop topics and panels are now finalized for the FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show: the largest cruise conference and trade show in the Caribbean and Latin America, taking place in Mérida, Mexico from October 23-27. Led by cruise line decision makers and knowledgeable industry experts, the workshops will focus on key elements?including destination experience, cruise line purchasing, and crisis management?along with insight from cruise line presidents and CEOs so attendees can chart their route for cruise tourism success.

"We have interacted with our Member Lines and Platinum Members to create workshops that will help attendees maximize the cruise industry's benefits," said Michele Paige, President, FCCA. "From government ministries and port authorities to tour operators and local suppliers, the event's workshops will directly apply to the specific needs of the wide range of attendees to build understanding and business."

"I look forward to interacting with cruise tourism's key stakeholders," said Adam Goldstein, President and COO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL), and Chairman, FCCA. "This is a valuable opportunity for regional destinations and operators to learn how they are being affected by and can take advantage of the industry's latest developments."

Goldstein will offer this opportunity not only through his participation at the event's meetings, networking functions and trade show, but also by joining other presidents, chairmen, CEOs and/or COOs at the Presidential Roundtable, which will grant insight into the latest and upcoming trends, and how it applies to private and public stakeholders. The high-level panel will answer questions tailored to the region and audience by the moderator, Anne Kalosh, U.S. Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review and Seatrade Cruise News. In addition to Goldstein, other expected panelists will include Micky Arison, Chairman, Carnival Corporation & plc; Orlando Ashford, President, Holland America Line; Frank Del Rio, President & CEO, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH); Arnold Donald, President & CEO, Carnival Corporation & plc; and Richard Sasso, Chairman, MSC Cruises (USA) Inc.

"Creating the Ultimate Destination Experience" will discuss ways destinations and shore excursions impact passenger experience, along with how to optimize that experience and passenger satisfaction by displaying a destination's magic and history from a passenger's first step off the ship. Moderated by Arnaldo Zanonado, Senior Manager, Port Adventures, Disney Cruise Line, and FCCA Shore Excursion Committee Chairman, it will include panelists like Albino Di Lorenzo, Vice President, Cruise Operations, MSC Cruises (USA) Inc.; Federico Gonzalez-Denton, Associate Vice President, Government Relations, RCCL.; and Erika Tache, Director, Product Development ? Tour Operations, Carnival Cruise Line.

The FCCA's Purchasing Program will provide more opportunities for suppliers to stock up their business with the cruise lines during "Purchasing Practices for the Cruise Industry." Besides the benefits of the Purchasing Program, including a Trade Show booth in the Purchasing Pavilion and private meetings with cruise line purchasing executives and broadline distributors, the workshop will be open to all Conference attendees to assist them in understanding how to source business with cruise lines. The diverse group of panelists, ranging from those executives and distributors to successful local suppliers, will outline how to become a successful provider for the industry. Moderated by Michael Jones, Senior Vice President, Supply Chain, Travel Port Services and Workplace Solutions, RCCL, and FCCA Purchasing Committee Chairman, the panel will include Paolo Raia, Vice President, Food & Beverage, Carnival Corporation & plc; Colista James, Senior Director, Food & Beverage Supply Chain Management and Brand Protection, NCLH; and John Helverson, Manager, International Sales, Gordon Food Service.

The event and workshops will also continue the FCCA's and Member Lines' efforts to assist destinations after the tragedies of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, including the FCCA's commitment to provide sleeping pods, multi-thousand-square-foot semi-permanent structures for housing and schooling, and life-sustaining supplies to affected destinations at a value of $780,000. The event will do this not only by bringing together afflicted stakeholders to help rebuild their tourism and economies, but also by discussing best practices for crisis management during a meeting between Ministers of Tourism and Member Line Presidents and CEOs, as well as a dedicated workshop. The workshop will provide an all-encompassing plan from preparation to proactive reaction, including housing and relief, evacuations, public relations and communications with partners to provide resources. Moderated by Michele Paige, expected panelists include Russell Daya, Executive Director, Global Port Operations & Development, Disney Cruise Line; Steve Moeller, Vice President, Commercial Development, NCLH; and the Honorable Allen Chastanet, Prime Minister of St. Lucia and Chairman of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States.

The workshops are just one way that the FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show will help attendees learn about the cruise industry and how to maximize its benefits, as the event will gather nearly 1,000 cruise industry stakeholders and 100 FCCA Member Line executives for an agenda balancing business sessions with networking, promoting and exhibiting opportunities, including preset one-on-one meetings, evening events to meet cruise executives, and a Trade Show featuring exclusive executive viewings and special features to drive participation from the attendees and executives.

For more information and registration, please visit www.regonline.com/FCCAMerida. To inquire about a Trade Show booth, please contact [email protected].

About the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association
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, the FCCA on Facebook, and @FCCAupdates on Twitter.

MEDIA CONTACTS:   
Mike Hicks
Lou Hammond Group
561-655-3836
[email protected]             

SOURCE Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA)