Meetings & Events
Key Cruise Line Executives and Industry Stakeholders Gather for Meetings, Business Opportunities and Family Fun
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n January 13, more than 150 FCCA Platinum Members, 25 decision-making executives from FCCA Member lines, and even some of their family members headed to Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades to embark on Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas and the annual FCCA PAMAC Cruise Summit. As usual, the event put business and relationship development in high gear on the high seas through an agenda ranging from meetings to networking events and shore excursions, offering a healthy balance of work and fun. After all, linking some of the premier players of destinations’ private and public sectors with the high-level cruise executives not only offers vital collaboration and promotion, but also makes them comfortable together to form invaluable, synergistic partnerships.
“FCCA membership events like the PAMAC Cruise Summit are essential to both the members and cruise line representatives,” said Adam Goldstein, president and COO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., and chairman, FCCA. “They join 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.” Activities began right after Independence rang its horns and announced its departure for Costa Maya, Mexico, as the crowd congregated for the Business Card Exchange and Reception. Here, members and executives swapped not only cards, but also trends and developments—from a new destination product or target market, to a new child or hobby. Dinner followed, where members and executives joined to continue their discus-
sions or start a new one by sitting with a different executive. Tables set aside for the group provided a selection of conversation partners, from family and other Platinum Members to a choice of cruise executives that decide where ships call; what is bought, used and sold onboard; and how to invest in destination products and infrastructure. The next day started with a two-hour session of one-on-one meetings, where members privately met with pre-selected executives. Often these executives filled a required need for discussing and presenting new business. After all, they have the knowledge to offer their input and cruise line’s perspective to make a more viable business model and tailor offerings for the line and industry. “The one-on-one meetings allow for us to address the specific concerns or learn about new products from Platinum Members,” told Federico Gonzalez-Denton, FIRST QUARTER 2018 | TRAVEL & CRUISE 43
