Port St. Maarten Receives PAMAC Award Caribbean for Everyone
PORT ST. MAARTEN – Port St. Maarten received the ‘PAMAC Award Caribbean for Everyone’ on Tuesday this week during the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Platinum Associate Membership Advisory Council Cruise Summit (PAMAC).
On receiving the award, the Cruise Executives reminded the Port St. Maarten Management Team that St. Maarten “is the destination of choice.” A release issued by Port St. Maarten on Wednesday stated, “Once again, we have been recognized for all our hard work. This hard work is not only of the port, but also of all stakeholders throughout the country who have been working very diligently during the recovery effort.”
One of the main messages coming from the very critical Conference is the need for St. Maarten to “continue to be on the ball and to shake things up, and not to allow things to get stale.”
“There are a lot of competitors out there vying for the same business. The message from cruise executives was, we are the destination of choice and not a destination that is part of the trip.”
On Wednesday, January 23, a delegation from FCCA PAMAC visited the destination onboard the cruise ship MSC Seaside. The PAMAC Summit is taking place from January 19-26.
Following the award ceremony, Minister of Tourism Stuart Johnson said, “Once again due to the stewardship at Port St. Maarten, the hard work of its staff, and the hard work of all stakeholders, hospitality sector workers and the population overall, the destination has been recognized by the cruise industry in their efforts for providing cruise passengers a memorable experience. Congratulations to all are in order.”
Port St. Maarten Management were ecstatic with respect to the recognition it received as well as the destination.
During the MSC Seaside port call on Wednesday, marine and tourism industry pioneer and one of the first FCCA Platinum Members, Sir Bobby Velasquez, sponsored a tour for his fellow Platinum Members with an unforgettable day onboard one of the company’s vessels La Nina.
On January 23rd the boat was transformed into a unique tour designed specifically for the FCCA Platinum members, creating a memorable day filled as guest sailed along the coast taking in breathtaking St. Maarten views and enjoying some sun and sea.
More than 100 attendees, including FCCA Platinum Members-key cruise tourism stakeholders-and over 30 high-ranking executives from the FCCA’s 19 Member Lines, are attending the FCCA PAMAC Cruise Summit.
The FCCA PAMAC Cruise Summit working visit on Wednesday was a perfect teaser for the attendees leading up to the PAMAC Conference that will be held on the island at Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa in June.
The seven-day event will feature a series of meetings, workshops and networking events connecting with senior cruise industry leaders to discuss industry trends and standards and develop relationships and mutual benefits for the cruise lines and members’ companies and destinations.
The FCCA PAMAC Platinum Members are also visiting Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and The Bahamas.
The PAMAC event is one of many that the FCCA coordinates for its Platinum Members and Member Lines to stay at the forefront of information about both the industry and destinations while finding ways to maximize the benefits for all.
The FCCA is a not-for-profit trade organization composed of 19 Member Lines operating over 100 vessels in Floridian, Caribbean and Latin American waters. Created in 1972, the FCCA’s mandate is to provide a forum for discussion on tourism development, ports, safety, security, and other cruise industry issue and to develop bilateral relationships with destinations’ private and public sectors.
By fostering an understanding of the cruise industry and its operating practices, the FCCA works with governments, ports and private sector representatives to maximize cruise passenger, crew and cruise line spending, as well as enhance the destination experience and increase the amount of cruise passengers returning as stay-over visitors.
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PHOTO CUTLINE: (L-R) ALBINO di Lorenzo, VP Operations USA MSC, Alexander Gumbs, Business Development and Marketing Manager – Port St. Maarten, Rick Sasso, Chairman MSC USA, Honorable Minister Stuart Johnson, Michele Paige, FCCA President, Lela Simmonds, Corporate Officer – Port St. Maarten.
