The Tribune

THE annual Cruise Shipping Miami Conference and Exhibition remains the largest and most valued business platform for the global maritime industry.

For years, companies throughout the country and region have utilised the mega event to showcase new products, negotiate contracts and for building new business opportunities within the Cruise and Maritime Sectors.

As for President Ian Rolle and the Business Development Team of The Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited (GBPA), this year’s conference provided the perfect networking and B2B environment to promote the advantages of Grand Bahama as a premier cruise destination.

“Following a successful cruise call at Port Lucaya by Costa Luminosa, and the positive feedback from its passengers, CSM presented the ideal opportunity to continue promoting Grand Bahama as a fuel-efficient destination with the unique advantage of two ports of call, Port Lucaya and Freeport Harbour,” President Rolle said.

“Grand Bahama’s convenient location on cruise routes is a major advantage, so the focus is now on building tour capacity and creating unique experiences that will attract more passengers ashore,” he continued.

“By speaking directly with the lines, we are able to garner valuable input to develop these unique tours, thereby creating value for our guests and a much more positive experience of the island,” Mr Rolle added.

The 2014 CSM Conference and Exhibition took place over four days at the Miami Beach Convention Centre. The annual conference plays host to more than 10,000 of the movers and shakers of the cruise industry each year.

GBPA Business Development Manager Derek Newbold noted the conference as a valuable platform for building new businesses within the cruise tourism sector.

“Discussions with the cruise lines were extremely productive and there is a genuine interest on the part of the cruise lines to work with officials of GBPA to make Grand Bahama one of the most attractive destinations in the region,” Mr Newbold said.

“We met with a number of executives from companies across diverse industries; discussions are ongoing and GBPA will continue with its promotional efforts at the upcoming Florida Caribbean Cruise Association Conference set to take place later this year.

“A greater appreciation of the cruise lines’ needs and expectations can only serve to better equip us to assist our licensees in diversifying local product offerings,” Mr Newbold said.