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President’s Letter
“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
www.f-cca.com
As we look ahead to the fall months, we also look forward to a time of the
year when people feel more energized and more motivated to tackle tasks.
It’s just human nature to feel fall is a time to sprint ahead.
In this respect, the timing of the 14th Annual FCCA Caribbean Cruise
Conference & Trade Show couldn’t be better. We’re looking forward to
seeing more than 1,200 industry professionals in Cozumel, Mexico, from
Oct. 8 - 12.
And one of the keys to success in the coming months, as well as a recurring
theme at the Conference, will be teamwork. Success comes through
cooperation, and while competition is healthy and often fuels success as
well, solo thinking – me-ism – can undermine the best of intentions.
Michele M. Paige with
Dalila Negrón de Ortega,
President - DIF Cozumel
Instead, we will explore cooperative teamwork in which individual skill
sets, when combined, open the door for achievements far beyond that of
what one person, or one group, can achieve.
We can learn from each other’s successes. And there are successes galore occurring throughout the Caribbean and
Latin America, as you will see in this convention issue:
• Patrick Schneider, the newly appointed Global Director of Shore Excursions for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity
Cruises, discusses his company’s intense analysis of why passengers sail and what they want from their
cruise – and how their cultural backgrounds often determine their cruise expectations;
• Cozumel offers an endless array of historic and renovated venues for visitors and Conference attendees. A few
hints are offered toward possible sites to see – from the historic Public Clock to the Two Cultures Encounter
that honors the ethnic roots of these native Mexicans;
• When Disney Cruise Line launched in 1998, as you might expect, there was lots of innovative planning in the
process. Tom McAlpin writes about how destinations can learn from Disney’s approach to the cruise industry –
and its focus on children and adults simultaneously;
• “Think unique, think different” is the watchword from a Regent Seven Seas Cruises article. Take note of what
makes your destination or venue or business unique and expand on that. Think out of the box. Look for creative
ways to combine what your guests like best about you.
So take a few minutes and read what the experts have to offer in this issue. Then enjoy yourselves while looking for
ways to take that idea of teamwork and make it work for you and your destination.
See you in Cozumel!
Respectfully yours,
Michele M. Paige
Third Quarter 2007 Caribbean Cruising 3