Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1542608
CRUISE NEWS Governor Jenniffer González-Colón speaking at the open- ing ceremony Delivering the state of the industry address, Josh Weinstein, President and CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc, shared an impressive outlook for the industry, stating, "Nowhere is the appetite for cruise travel and the outlook for growth greater than in the Caribbean and Latin America." He noted that glob- al cruise demand is booming — with 37.7 million passengers projected this year, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by "a whop- ping" 27% — and confirmed that the Caribbean and Latin America remain the world's leading cruise market. "No other region offers such welcoming, diverse, close-to-home, and high value itineraries," he said. Weinstein emphasized that together, cruise lines and destinations are driving real impact — fueling local economies, supporting communities and small businesses, and creating jobs across the region. The event featured a series of high-impact sessions begin- ning with the Cruise Industry Masterclass led by Ambra Attus, Director of Impact, Growth & Development of the Aquila Center for Cruise Excellence, who urged delegates to explore the trends transforming global cruising, from evolving guest expectations to sustainability, technology and inclusivity. Attus underscored how the post-pandemic rebound has brought with it a new kind of traveler — one seeking connection, personal- ization and purpose. "Guests are back but they have a higher expectation, they have deeper values, they have different expectations, and that brings a little bit of pressure on us — on our operations, on our destinations because we really have to ramp up and update as the trends change," she stated. The CEO Spotlight and Presidential Panels brought togeth- er the leaders of the world's top cruise brands, including Weinstein of Carnival Corporation & plc, Michael Bayley, President & CEO of Royal Caribbean, Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line, Gus Antorcha, President of Princess Cruises, Chris Ivy, CEO of Margaritaville at Sea, and Joe Schott, President of Disney Signature Experiences. The discussion explored new ship classes, destination devel- opment, and the evolving relationship between cruise lines and Caribbean partners. Executives emphasized the importance of collaboration, infrastructure investment, and positioning desti- nations as strong brands, with exclusive destinations serving as models of community integration and innovation. They also highlighted the appeal of premium, destination- rich itineraries shaped through partnerships, and the growing value of authentic, immersive local experiences. Panelists urged regional governments to avoid excessive taxes and unexpected fees that could impact deployment decisions, stressing the need for transparent, long-term partnerships to drive shared growth. Renewed calls were made for a coordinated regional approach to employing Caribbean seafarers, acknowledging the chal- lenges but highlighting success stories emerging through the Caribbean Maritime University. Workshops throughout the week explored diverse themes — from compassionate crisis management and homeporting to destination resilience and digital communications. The Care Team Training, led by Carnival and Royal Caribbean specialists, focused on strengthening crisis response and emotional support across the cruise and hospitality sectors. In "The Rise of Homeporting for the Caribbean," industry experts from Port St. Maarten, Port Everglades, Maryland Port Administration, Carnival and Royal Caribbean discussed the growing momentum behind homeporting — from infrastruc- ture expansion to new strategic partnerships driving regional cruise growth. During "Charting a New Course: AI Solutions for Cruise & Tour Professionals," Eric Benedict, Vice President of Training & Development at Access Cruise Inc., delivered an inspiring presentation on how AI is reshaping the cruise industry — from streamlined operations to smarter guest personalization. Through real-world examples, he showed how technology can empower teams, enhance service delivery, and reimagine desti- nation experiences — all while keeping the vital human touch at the heart of hospitality. Beverly Nicholson-Doty, CEO of Figment Design, delivered a powerful session on "Purpose-Driven Resilience," exploring how small destinations can build sustainable, people-centered, and crisis-ready tourism strategies. Drawing on real-world examples from her experience working across the Caribbean, she emphasized that true resilience is not a reaction — it's embedded in every aspect of strategy, relationships and com- munity engagement. "Resilience doesn't just happen — it's part of your strategy," she reminded attendees, urging destinations to plan ahead, empower their people, and make every visitor experience memorable. The final session, "Going Beyond Social Media," led by Bevan Springer, President and CEO of Marketplace Excellence, offered a masterclass in integrated communications. He and his team unpacked how to build communications plans that combine PR, social media and digital marketing — with clear goals, aligned messaging, and research-backed evaluation. Attendees learned how to drive real business results through smarter storytelling. As the conference closed, one message prevailed — that the strength of the Caribbean cruise industry lies in partnership, purpose and people. Ambra Attus of Aquila summed it up best: "When one of us thrives, the whole industry thrives." B M & T ••• January/February 2026 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 42