12th Annual FCCA Conference A Success For St. Kitts
ST. KITTS, Ocotber 12, 2005. The 12th Annual Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Conference and Trade Show, held from September 27-30, 2005 on St. Kitts, proved to be a considerable success for the island as well as the attendees. Kicking off the three-day event, a group of cruise tourism partners, government leaders and important executives representing various FCCA member cruise lines played a friendly round of golf at the 18-hole championship Royal St. Kitts Golf Course. One of the highlights of the event was the Conference Grand Opening Ceremony, featuring remarks by the President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) His Excellency Chen Shiu-bian, conducting a two-day state visit to the island. President Shiu-bian praised St. Kitts and the efforts of the local organizing committee, stating that the island "...has done a remarkable job in organizing events."
Further high points of the conference included a special presentation of a check in the amount of $7,800 by FCCA Chairman and Chairman & CEO of Carnival Corporation & PLC Micky Arison to the St. Christopher Heritage Society to assist with the preservation of the unique heritage of St. Kitts & Nevis and evening gala celebrations at Port Zante, the island's impressive cruise ship terminal, and at Brimstone Hill Fortress, featuring live entertainment, delectable cuisine and an impressive fireworks display.
Throughout the Conference, attendees were afforded the opportunity to attend island tours featuring some of St. Kitts' most impressive sites, educational workshops, informal breakout sessions and one-on-one meetings with various cruise industry executives. In addition, attendees and exhibitors from various destinations and representing numerous products were able to interact at the Trade Show.
"I could not be more pleased with the results of the Conference and Trade Show," said Ricky Skerritt, Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Culture for St. Kitts. "The Tourism Authority, the FCCA, the local organizing committee and the people of St. Kitts all worked together to impress upon our visitors that St Kitts is ready to welcome the world. The large number of private sector sponsors and volunteers, including taxi operators who came forward to assist, was very special," said the Minister. "Equally important were the business relationships that were established or strengthened during the event."
The St. Kitts Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino served as the host venue for the 3-day Conference and Trade Show. This important event brought over 1,200 cruise industry executives and partners together for three full days of networking on St. Kitts, making it the largest conference in FCCA history, held on the smallest island yet.
The St. Kitts Tourism Authority was the local lead organizing agent responsible for planning and executing the event, working alongside public and private sector partners to achieve these successful results. The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) was created in 1972 and represents eleven member cruise lines operating almost 100 vessels in Floridian, Caribbean and Mexican waters.
Located in the northern Leeward Islands of the Caribbean, St. Kitts offers a diverse tourism product developed from the destination's natural beauty, cultural heritage and rich history. Originally populated by native Carib indians, the island was colonized by the British in 1623 and now offers visitors a wide variety of vacation activities including hiking through the tropical rainforest, riding the scenic railway that connects the island's sugar plantations, touring Brimstone Hill Fortress, the only man-made UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Eastern Caribbean, and the more traditional vacation pastimes such as watersports, golf, shopping, tennis, gourmet dining, gaming at St. Kitts' exclusive casino or simply relaxing on one of the island's sandy beaches. Guests can select from accommodations ranging from intimate plantation inns to larger hotels or resorts.
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