FCCA Adds Four Member Lines
The Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) has announced the addition of four member lines. Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, brands of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and Croiseres de France and Pullmantur, brands of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., recently joined FCCA, bringing the total number of member lines to 19.
"The increase in member lines is significant for the growth of the FCCA and the Caribbean and Latin American regions," said FCCA President Michele Paige. "It represents not just the cruise lines' commitment to the FCCA, but also their future outlook for this crucial market."
According to FCCA, data from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) showed the market's importance, as the Caribbean reigned as the dominant cruise region in 2014, accounting for over 37 per cent of global deployment – an increase over its leading 34 per cent share in 2013.
Plus recent cruise line infrastructure investments, such as Norwegian's Harvest Caye in Belize and Carnival's Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic and Mahogany Bay in Roatan, proved the industry's intent for future business in the Caribbean and Latin America.
"The Caribbean and Latin America have proven their worth to the industry, but we need to continually build on that success," said chairman of Carnival Corporation & plc and FCCA Micky Arison. "Just as our ships and brands innovate, destinations must constantly refresh products to attract new and repeat passengers and compete with global markets. Working with the FCCA is one of the best ways for destinations to stay ahead of the curve."
FCCA helps destinations and stakeholders with this by developing partnerships and working with them to learn about their individual issues and goals. It then utilizes its knowledge of the industry, along with its member line contacts, to tailor an action plan that optimizes the destination's or stakeholder's cruise tourism impact.
A destination or company can access this knowledge and member line personnel through the FCCA's membership program and events. Both include functions that gather the industry's decision makers with stakeholders in casual, engaging settings for a healthy mix of business and pleasure that helps form significant relationships. Members and attendees experience this balance while cementing deals at a friendly dinner or getting an inside look at industry projects on unforgettable tours.
The FCCA's keynote event, the Conference and Trade Show, taking place in Cozumel, Mexico, from October 6 to 9, 2015, will also showcase this balance during its four-day agenda chock-full of business sessions and networking opportunities. Attendees can target cruise executives during one-on-one meetings or evening functions, as well as learn from the executives during workshops that cater to informing attendees how to increase their share of cruise tourism.
Source: The Daily Herald
