San Juan Hosts 18th Annual FCCA Cruise Conference and Trade Show By Chris Roberts
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s the oldest city under the American flag, San Juan deserves all the tourism attention that it receives. The remarkable Old Town, an incredible new convention facility, and a solid agenda attracted more than 1,000 delegates to the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association’s 18th Annual Conference and Trade Show, October 3-7, 2011.
The welcoming ceremony took place at the recently opened convention center, the largest in the Caribbean and the most technologically advanced. An exotic rainforest setting, with the sounds of coki tree frogs and waterfalls, served as the stunning backdrop for guest speakers. Princess Cruises’ Jan Swartz, head of the marketing committee for Cruise Line of America (CLIA), gave the keynote address and outlined the state
of the cruise industry. “These are challenging times,” said Ms. Swartz. “There has been an ebb and flow of growth in the Caribbean.” Accompanying FCCA Chairman Kevin Sheehan, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line on stage, Puerto Rico’s Governor Hon. Luis G. Fortuño also welcomed the gathering of cruise executives, delegates, and ministers of tourism. He cited, “The impact of the cruise industry in Puerto Rico accounts for 2,400 direct jobs and contributes $245 million to the local economy. In all, we have experienced an eight percent increase in total visitors this year.” Winners of the FCCA Essay Contest were acknowledged during the opening ceremony. Trevonette Johnson, 10, from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Muta Abiff, 15, from St. Thomas, USVI, tackled and scored with the
topic: “What Does Sustainable Tourism Mean to Your Destination?” Once the conference was opened for business, it was time for a full schedule to foster communication between the attendees and the more than 100 decision makers of the cruise industry present in the form of cruise executives and even lines’ presidents and CEOs. The evening functions, like the opening ceremony and the nightly dinners and festivities that were hosted by Puerto Rico, Bacardi and others, bring together the attendees and executives in a more casual setting to allow them to feel comfortable as they get to know each other’s business, both personally and professionally. This also represents a good balance between the casual atmosphere and the formal business transpiring during the Fourth Quarter 2011 • Cruising Magazine 33