Harbor Group of Companies surpassed its 3.5 million dollar budget to host 4-day conference
POINTE BLANCHE:--- The 21st Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) conference got the largest turn out ever in its history of organizing conferences in the Caribbean. Some 11 years ago St. Maarten hosted the FCCA conference announced President of the FCCA Michel Paige on Wednesday.
The St. Maarten Harbor Group of Companies lead organizer Ichel Moeslikan told SMN News that the conference currently being held on St. Maarten took over two years of planning while the Harbour Group of Companies already surpassed its 3.5 million dollar budget to put together one of the most spectacular conferences and trade shows in the Caribbean. Moeslikan said up to late Wednesday afternoon they had just about 1,100 delegates on the island who came to participate in the tradeshows, conferences and workshops that will be held during the four day conference. Moeslikan said that their cost went up mostly because of the large turnout. "At first it was three host hotels, now its five and we have to shuttle people to and from the hotel and have more security in place. Apart from that food and other expenses sent our cost up." St. Maarten is hoping that the investment and time spent on organizing the FCCA 21st conference will attract more cruise lines to the island.
President of the FCCA and other dignitaries including former commissioner and Minister of Tourism Theodore Heyliger attended first workshop. Paige said that Heyliger is a man with vision and someone that executes whatever he envisioned. She said besides making St. Maarten one of the number one destinations in the Caribbean Heyliger was someone anyone from the cruise industry could depend on when they needed assistance. Heyliger in his presentation went back in time when he told the delegates that when he was elected in 1995 St. Maarten was struck with two major category five hurricanes and he was the commissioner of tourism at the time who had to travel to Florida to negotiate with Paige and other stakeholders. He said his first meeting was not too pleasant but over the years he managed to get the confidence of the FCCA and the cruise lines that invested in St. Maarten when they decided to build the A.C. Wathey Cruise Facilty. Heyliger further explained that while it was not always easy he managed through hard work to develop tourism on St. Maarten making it the number one destinations in the Caribbean. He admitted the political turmoil over the past four years where government changed at least three times was a major set-back for St. Maarten.
The Tradeshow Center which was built at the A.C. Wathey Cruise Facility is one of the largest tradeshow centers that has almost everything for its visitors. Several Caribbean countries such as St. Lucia, Dominica, the British Virgin Islands, the Dominican Republic, Curacao, Martinique, Belize, Guadeloupe, Mexico, Grenada, Barbados, Jamaica and several other islands ensured they had a booth at the tradeshow center where they are giving away items in order to attract tourists to their destinations.
However, St. Maarten/St. Maarten topped it off with several booths representing the island. Locally made finger snacks and champagne are being served round the clock. Moeslikan said that the organizers of the conference made sure they showcased the island's local cuisine. Wednesday night she said the top chefs of the island will be preparing the dinners and deserts for their guests. At one of the booths held by the Harbor Group of Companies local snacks such as conch, boudin, fried shrimp, potato balls, crockets and other snacks that are prepared by locals are being served. The French side of the island had its sugar cakes, dried nuts and delicacies that was also readily available.
A major attraction at the tradeshow was the island's recycling booth that attracted many persons. Another big attraction for St. Maarten is the St. Maarten Nectar products that are on full display, one could find the Baby Bug, Bug off for adults, tanning oil, and the after sun lotion and bug off candles. All of Nectar's repellents are made from natural ingredients. Nectar also had lots of goodies such as the safety tool to help drivers that are trapped in their vehicles to get out, and the rain poncho for persons to move around even when it's raining.
The Dominican Republic also has a beautiful display in the trade center, including Dominica who brought along many of their home made items to give away, ground coffee, hand-made peppermint soap were some of the items Dominica had at their booths as giveaways. The BVI had lots of marketing materials and first class pens that has a flashlight on it for its visitors. Overall the first day of the conference can be considered as a successful day as many of the locals entrepreneurs made their way to the tradeshow center to show their faces and to sip and chat with the visitors on the island.
The FCCA conference will continue until Thursday where several of the other planned activities will take place.
Click here to view more photos of the FCCA Conference and Tradeshow.
