TOURISM COMPANY AND THE FLORIDA CARIBBEAN CRUISE ASSOCIATION PREPARE THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO DO BUSINESS WITH HIGH-LEVEL CRUISE EXECUTIVES

San Juan, PR – The Puerto Rico Tourism Company (CTPR) and the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) held a preparation forum for the celebration of the FCCA Annual Conference in its 25th edition, of which the Island will be the host destination. The meeting was led by the appointed executive director of the CTPR, Carla Campos; the senior vice president of the FCCA, Adam Ceserano; the vice president of operations of the FCCA, Terri Cannici; and the director of events and programs of the FCCA, Mario Aguirre. The FCCA Annual Conference will be held from November 5 to 9, 2018, at the Puerto Rico Convention Center.

The forum convened by the CTPR took place yesterday at the Puerto Rico Convention Center and included the participation of around 130 representatives and stakeholders from the Island's tourism industry, especially those providing services to cruises in Puerto Rico such as: transporters; suppliers of products and services; tour operators, companies offering excursions; tourist attractions on the Island, municipal tourism offices; cruise line agents; airline agents; accommodations; restaurants and dining establishments; and merchants from Old San Juan, among others. Additionally, government entities such as the Ports Authority and the Department of Economic Development (DDEC); representatives from the Tourism Commissions in the Senate and the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico; the Board of Directors of the CTPR; and the Puerto Rico Tourism & Hotel Association (PRHTA), among others, participated.

“Aware of the importance of Puerto Rico becoming the host destination for the 25th edition of the FCCA Annual Conference, at the CTPR we took on the task of coordinating this forum so that our partners in the industry have the most available information, and thus participate in such an important event prepared and in a position to do business with the main executives of the cruise lines who will be in Puerto Rico in November,” expressed Carla Campos.

During the meeting, the head of the CTPR and the FCCA executives provided details and plans about the annual conference taking place this year in Puerto Rico; expectations and participation opportunities during the event days. Among the opportunities that entrepreneurs will have, it was highlighted that tourist attractions, tourism operations, restaurants, and businesses will have the chance to meet and negotiate with the main executives of the cruise tourism industry.

“This forum allowed us to communicate to Puerto Rican entrepreneurs that Puerto Rico is in a privileged position in front of the cruise industry and that the event in November aims to show its main executives that the destination is reinventing itself, innovating, and increasing our quality of service, as mandated by Governor Ricardo Rosselló. The 130 entrepreneurs we spoke with at the forum will be preparing to maximize the celebration of the FCCA annual convention in November,” concluded the appointed Executive Director of the CTPR.

###