Miramar, FL (September 17, 2019) – Stakeholders from the Caribbean and Latin America were in the middle of Europe’s meeting point for the cruise industry, benefitting from the record-breaking cruise line executive attendance along with the record-breaking initiative by Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) at Seatrade Europe, which resulted in the 14 Partners hosting more than 60 meetings and more than 35 top-level cruise executives visiting the FCCA’s highly trafficked pavilion for meetings and networking events.
“We could not be more honored to see the turnout at our Seatrade Europe Pavilion – and to feel the excitement during festive events that drew constant crowds while displaying our partners’ offerings,” said Michele Paige, president, FCCA. “We thank all those who visited, especially the more than 35 cruise executives, and we are excited to begin helping turn the potential from the more than 60 meetings into actionable items and mutual success.”
“Thanks to our partnership with the FCCA, our participation at this year’s Seatrade Europe in Hamburg was one of tremendous value and results,” said Orfila Salazar, director of cruise, Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism. “Our delegation – which included a team from Ports of San Souci, La Romana and our newest project, Taino Bay – was able to carry out key meetings that we have no doubt will help us achieve industry goals in the short-, mid- and long-term range. We look forwarding to continuing partnering with the FCCA for not only Seatrade Med next year, but in other key industry events in the near future.”
For the third consecutive year, FCCA engaged its initiative to connect destination stakeholders with key entities from the European cruise market by coordinating opportunities for meetings, networking, exhibiting and more at Seatrade Europe/Med and beyond.
This year’s record 14 Partners, the initiative’s most ever and 75 percent higher than its inaugural year, witnessed a record-breaking event in Hamburg, Germany from Sept. 11-13 – with the most-ever cruise line executives as well as a footfall of over 5,000 – and benefitted from the FCCA’s initiative to put its Partners in the spotlight.
Partners had individual booth space to showcase their products, with all booths featuring private meeting areas where Partners hosted more than 60 meetings that FCCA helped coordinate with the executives from European ocean and river cruise lines in attendance, as well as key stakeholders. FCCA also organized private networking events to help Partners develop relationships, understanding and potential business in a comfortable setting. In total, more than 35 top-level cruise executives visited the FCCA Pavilion for the meetings and events.
“We are proud to have been one of the 14 FCCA partners for Seatrade Europe initiative,” said Port St. Maarten Management. “It allowed us to connect with European cruise lines during networking and exhibiting opportunities. We profiled the latest developments and experiences at Port St. Maarten and are looking forward to capitalizing on the potential business items that we discussed. Otherwise, its full steam ahead for the 2019-2020 cruise season.”
Additionally, FCCA furthered the exposure and opportunities for Seatrade Europe Partners both at the event, including distributed materials, and beyond, with the Association’s efforts continuing year-round to follow up on actionable items from prescheduled meetings.
Some of those discussions will also continue at the FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show, the largest and only official cruise tourism conference and trade show in the Caribbean, which will feature many of the same cruise executives among the more than 100 expected. Taking place in San Juan, Puerto Rico from Oct. 21-25, the event will offer similar chances for any attendee to target decision makers from FCCA Member Lines during the four-day agenda including meetings – with prescheduled one-on-one meetings available for preregistered Delegates – and workshops, along with networking events open to all attendees and executives.
“Aruba participated within the FCCA pavilion for the first time at Seatrade Europe in Hamburg this past week and without a doubt provided us great leverage to carry out a productive agenda at this year’s show,” said Mario Arends, cruise manager, Aruba Tourism Authority. “We look forward to Seatrade Med in 2020!”
FCCA will also participate at the next Seatrade Europe at the Hamburg Fair site from Sept. 8-10, 2021, along with Seatrade Cruise Med in Málaga, Spain from Sept. 15-17, 2020.
FCCA’s 2019 Seatrade Europe Partners:
Aruba Tourism & Port Authority / Chukka / Colombia / Colon 2000 / Curacao Ports / Discover Dominica / Dominican Republic / Guadeloupe / Guatemala / Port St. Maarten / St. Maarten Tourism / St. Martin Tourism / Seamore, Cozumel / Aquila
About Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA)
Created in 1972, 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, 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 and @FCCAupdates on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.