Port St. Maarten – Construction and set-up is well underway at the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo facility of a convention center that will host the 21st Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Conference & Trade Show from October 6-10.
Shareholder representative Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs, Transportation & Telecommunications (MinTEATT) Hon. Ted Richardson and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Mingo did a site visit over the past weekend.
The Convention Center is being constructed on harbour property that was used as a container storage area.
Four buildings will be erected during the course of several weeks that will be used by approximately 1200 delegates who will be attending the conference in October.
Minister Richardson was impressed with the convention center set-up after reviewing the plans and being briefed about the logistics involved to build the center and have it ready for the conference attendees in October.
“St. Maarten hosting the FCCA conference is a major development for our country. It will bring the cruise industry right to our shores and give opportunity for those who would like to do business with the cruise sector. At the same time it pumps millions of dollars into our economy during early October which is still part of the so-called low season,” Minister Hon. Ted Richardson said on Wednesday.
CEO of Port St. Maarten said he is very pleased with reaching this point in the process of having everything in place and ready for the FCCA conference. “I would like to congratulate all involved with respect to what has been done so far. There is still much to be done, but we are on the right track. A presentation will soon be made to the Council of Ministers to update them on the progress being made,” CEO Mingo said on Wednesday.
The conference and trade show will attract to the destination more than 1000 cruise industry partners, including close to 100 cruise executives during that one week period.
For cruise executives, ports and destinations, cruise and tourism agencies, attractions, ship agents, suppliers and tour operators, the annual FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show is the premier industry event of the year to meet key industry players, analyse trends and discuss current issues.
RENDERING: A rendering of the completed Convention Center that will house the 21st FCCA Conference & Trade Show.