PEMBROKE PINES, FL:--- Workshop topics have been announced for the 2014 FCCA Conference and Trade Show, taking place in St. Maarten from October 6-10. The workshops will focus on the cruise industry's current events and route for the future, along with how attendees can maximize cruise tourism's impact. Panels will be comprised of knowledgeable industry professionals, cruise executives from related fields and presidents/CEOs heading a keynote roundtable discussion.
The roundtable discussion will provide insight into the latest and upcoming trends for presidents' and CEOs' lines, as well as the industry as a whole. Speakers will include Gerald Cahill, president & CEO, Carnival Cruise Lines; Richard Fain, president & CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.; Adam Goldstein, president & COO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.; and Kevin Sheehan, CEO, Norwegian Cruise Line, and chairman, FCCA Executive Committee.
"I look forward to interacting with cruise tourism's key stakeholders," said Goldstein. "This is a valuable opportunity for regional destinations and operators to learn how they are being affected by and can take advantage of the industry's latest developments."
Another workshop, "Blueprint for Sustaining Success," will discuss the steps of creating and evolving a successful tour product, along with maintaining that success. It will be moderated by Amilcar Cascais, vice president, tour operations, Carnival Cruise Lines, and include speakers such as Albino Di Lorenzo, vice president, cruise operations, MSC Cruises (USA) Inc.; Ellen Lynch, director, shore excursions, Holland America Line; Hellen Panagos, director, global product development, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.; Joanne Salzedo, director, shore excursion product development, Norwegian Cruise Line; Lisa Jensen, manager, Caribbean, Atlantic & Mexico shore operations, Princess Cruises; Dennis Campbell, president, Ambassatours Grayline/Big Pink Sightseeing; and Gareth Price, commercial director, Vallarta Adventures.
Russell Daya, director, port, security operations & maritime affairs, will mediate cruise line and destination representatives instructing the process of developing a cruise port, including why and how cruise lines choose to invest in a destination/port; the benefits of working with the FCCA, cruise lines, and private and public sectors; and the economic impact. Other speakers will include Carlos Torres de Navarra, vice president, commercial port operations, Carnival Cruise Lines; Steve Riester, vice president, planning and analysis, Norwegian Cruise Line; Miguel Reyna, director, port business development, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.; Mark Mingo, CEO, St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies; and Karine Roy-Camille, chairman, Martinique Tourism Authority.
Mexican government officials and cruise executives will help attendees apply the lessons, experiences and insight from Mexico's rise, fall and resurrection as a cruise destination. It will be moderated by Michele Paige and feature speakers such as Gerald Cahill; Kevin Sheehan; Claudia Ruiz Massieu Salina, secretary of tourism, Mexico; Roberto Borge, governor of Quintana Roo, Mexico; Mario Lopez Valdez, governor of Sinaloa, Mexico; and Freddy Marrufo, mayor of Cozumel, Mexico.
The workshops are just one way that the FCCA Conference & Trade Show will let attendees learn about the cruise industry and how to maximize its impact. The event, the biggest cruise conference and trade show in the Caribbean and Latin America, will gather around 1,000 cruise industry stakeholders and 100 FCCA Member Line cruise executives, presidents and CEOs for a four-day agenda that balances business sessions and networking opportunities, including preset one-on-one meetings, social functions, a trade show and, of course, workshops.
To learn more about and/or register for the FCCA Conference & Trade Show, please visit: https://www.regonline.com/fccastmaarten.