Grand Cayman is playing host this week to 1,200 or so delegates who want to see what the new Cayman Islands has to offer.
Florida-Caribbean Cruise Conference and Trade Show workers and volunteers showed up at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman early Sunday morning to assemble goody bags for the 1,200-plus delegates expected for the annual meeting, which begins today. Photo: Tammie C. Chisholm |
The delegates are part of the 13th annual Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association Conference and Trade Show.
While cruise tourism has been a mainstay for Grand Cayman since 1992, there isn’t any guarantee that cruisers will continue to come here.
That’s one of the reasons hosting the FCCA Conference is such a big deal for the Cayman Islands.
‘Some will think you already have the cruise business and that won’t change,’ said Michele M. Paige, FCCA president. ‘In any relationship it takes work and the building of the relationship, otherwise it disintegrates. Having this conference here is more important now for Cayman because the Cayman Islands is on the edge of a new beginning.’
The Cayman Islands was to play host to the conference in October 2004, but the venue was moved to Barbados after Hurricane Ivan caused severe damage to Grand Cayman that September.
While the colourful pomp and circumstance of entertaining FCCA guests is in the forefront and those in the tourism industry attend seminars and workshops designed to teach them how to do their jobs better, there will be behind-the-scenes meetings with industry movers and shakers and members of Government.
‘Members of Government will have private meetings with each cruise CEO,’ Ms Paige said. ‘Even though Government has a strong relationship with the cruise industry, it doesn’t get to sit down and talk.’
Those meetings will be closed to the public.
MA Paige said she is pleased with the way members of the Cayman Islands Government have gotten the message across to those in the tourism industry about just how pivotal this conference is for Cayman.
‘You’ve set the table, which is very important. You can have a wonderful meal, but no plates or silverware.
‘This gives Cayman the opportunity to showcase to the industry the new Cayman. I’m so impressed with what has been put in place. After Hurricane Ivan you didn’t sit on your laurels; you didn’t look at it and say this is devastation. The Cayman of today is so much stronger; the people and the attractions.’
Just as in any business, Cayman must remain competitive to succeed in the cruise tourism industry, she said.
That means a diverse and changing range of products to offer cruise tourists.
Cayman can prove to cruise tourism leaders that it has diversified its product and is ready to take cruise tourism to another level, she said.
New products include the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, Boatswain’s Beach and the Royal Watler Cruise Terminal, each of which will play host to a night extravaganza party to take place tonight, Wednesday and Thursday.
The Ritz will also be the venue for a new conference feature, a fireside chat from 12.15-1.30pm, which is sponsored by Cayman Free Press.
Ms Paige said it is evident that the islands has pulled together to make the conference a success.
‘I am very, very, very proud of our relationship with the private and public sector in the Cayman Islands. I hope they appreciate what they’re government has done to make this conference impactful. I want to thank the public and private sectors for ensuring this conference is a success.
‘I know this is going to be the best conference we have ever had.’
And with 1,200 registered delegates it will be the largest.
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