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FCCA PAMAC cruise updates on hurricane recovery, industry trends

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More than 150 cruise industry stakeholders were aboard Independence of the Seas this week for the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association's annual Platinum Associate Member Advisory Council Summit.

The Jan. 13-18 event featured topics ranging from industry trends and region-wide affairs to product promotion and member-specific matters, as well as networking events.

'FCCA membership events like the PAMAC Cruise Summit are essential to both the members and cruise line representatives,' according to 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.'

Bringing together Platinum Members and cruise line executives helps them better understand each other, along with current happenings and offerings, in order to grow and improve, FCCA president Michele Paige added.

Events included sit-down dinners and one-on-one meetings between Platinum Members and the cruise executives of their choice. As well, Platinum Members St. Maarten Port Authority, Puerto Rico Tourism Co. and US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism delivered presentations on topics such as the rebuilding efforts to reopen following hurricanes Irma and Maria.

This panel included reaction and insights from member line executives including Albino Di Lorenzo, VP cruise operations, MSC Cruises USA; Arnaldo Zanonato, senior manager, Port Adventures, Disney Cruise Line; Steve Moeller, VP commercial development, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings; Carlos Torres de Navarra, VP commercial port operations, Carnival Cruise Line; and Federico González-Denton, associate VP, government relations, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Cruise executives also made presentations. Di Lorenzo talked about MSC's 800% growth in its first 10 years, and Sarah Dayboll, sustainability manager for Carnival Cruise Line, discussed the 2018 European Union monitoring, reporting and verification regulations, and how they will affect the group.

Plus, evening receptions offered networking opportunities, and tours were available, from exploring the Mayan ruins near Costa Maya to swimming with dolphins at Dolphinaris in Cozumel. These facilitated networking while helping the group better understand what destinations offer from a passenger’s perspective.

The cruise sailed round-trip Port Everglades, and visited Costa Maya and Cozumel.

Platinum Members and member line executives are next scheduled to come together in March at the FCCA’s private events during Seatrade Cruise Global in Fort Lauderdale with the FCCA Gala, benefiting humanitarian causes in the Caribbean and Latin America and featuring a networking reception and sit-down dinner with attendees’ pre-selected executives, including presidents and CEOs.

Registration for the FCCA Gala is now open here.