FCCA's Day Loaded with Meetings and Networking Opportunities
 
Miami Beach, FL (March 19, 2015) - The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) loaded Cruise Shipping Miami (CSM) attendees with meetings and networking opportunities yesterday, including private meetings between cruise executives and destinations' private and public sectors, a reception that linked Platinum Members and cruise line representatives and a Gala that gathered over 400 cruise tourism stakeholders, including over 50 Member Line presidents, CEOs and executives that decide where ships call, what sells onboard and how to invest in infrastructure.
 
"The FCCA is crucial to maximizing time and opportunities during this busy week," told Micky Arison, chairman of Carnival Corporation and the FCCA, who was on-hand at a reception that took place in the FCCA's CSM booth (#695). "Time becomes extremely limited throughout Cruise Shipping, and the FCCA makes it possible to meet with some of the industry's most important stakeholders."
 
Meetings took place throughout the day for destinations' private and public sectors and cruise line executives to discuss operations and route for the future. These meetings included Antigua & Barbuda's status on dredging St. John's Harbor and enhancing St. Johns; Curacao's Rif Seaport Project; El Salvador's ports and updates on the Central America Cruise Summit it will host from May 13-15, 2015; St. Kitts' five-year strategy to continue developing cruise tourism; and Ecuador's introduction of its minister of tourism, Sandra Naranjo, to the FCCA Member Line executives.
 
ProColombia sponsored a private reception hosted at the FCCA booth for Platinum Members and guests to target the attending executives, enabling discussions ranging from business operations and recent happenings to family and plans for the week. The reception also celebrated the Sabor Latino Joint Cruise Alliance, a tailor-made cruise itinerary to discover Latin influences, featuring Aruba, Colombia, Curacao and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
 
The evening featured the FCCA's biggest event of the day, and all of CSM, the 21st
annual FCCA Gala. Over 400 attendees joined for a unique opportunity for anyone interested in cruise tourism business to network with 50 cruise line executives from various sectors and even presidents and CEOs hosting private tables."FCCA events always give me an opportunity to meet valuable industry stakeholders," said Adam Goldstein, president & COO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., who hosted a Gala table. "These are the people who have ideas and projects I want, and need, to know about."
 
These decision makers served as table and evening hosts, with registration including the selection of a cruise executive to join for a sit-down dinner with a side of productive talks and relationship building.
 
Plus the entire audience was on-hand for a 90-minute reception and silent art auction with a collection from Park West Galleries preceding the dinner and giving a chance to meet the attending presidents and CEOs, including Christine Duffy, president, Carnival Cruise Line; Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, president & CEO, Celebrity Cruises; Karl Holz, president, Disney Cruise Line; Orlando Ashford, president, Holland America Line; Richard Sasso, president & CEO, MSC Cruises (USA) Inc.; Andy Stuart, president & COO, Norwegian Cruise Line; Michael Bayley, president & CEO, Royal Caribbean International; Adam Goldstein; and Richard Fain, Chairman & CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.
 
"The FCCA Gala facilitated networking between Member Line executives and cruise tourism stakeholders, while contributing to a good cause-the FCCA Foundation," told Michele M. Paige, president of FCCA. "Of course it is crucial to link anyone doing business in the cruise industry with decision makers from the cruise lines, which is the best way to build understanding and business relationships, but even better is benefitting the citizens from Latin America and the Caribbean."
 
All proceeds benefitted the FCCA Foundation, the non-profit, charitable organization that funds humanitarian causes in the Caribbean and Latin America. Most recently, about 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 the feature sponsorship of Port Everglades and partner sponsorship of PortMiami and Port Canaveral.