Home Destinations Seatrade Cruise, CLIA and FCCA Forge Partnership

Bud Darr, Andrew Williams and Michele Paige shake hands on the new deal watched by colleagues from CLIA, FCCA and Seatrade Cruise. Photo courtesy of FCCA.

Seatrade Cruise, CLIA and FCCA Forge Partnership

July 22, 2025

Bud Darr, Andrew Williams and Michele Paige shake hands on the new deal watched by colleagues from CLIA, FCCA and Seatrade Cruise. Photo courtesy of FCCA.

Seatrade Cruise, CLIA and FCCA signed a new 10-year agreement to advance innovation, sustainability and growth in global cruising.

Seatrade Cruise, CLIA and FCCA are partnering on global events, including the industry’s premier event, the Seatrade Cruise Global conference. This collaboration will advance industry-wide initiatives that support businesses and stakeholders, generate growth opportunities, facilitate knowledge exchange, and promote sustainability.

“This agreement reflects our deep commitment to collaboration across the cruise industry,” said Bud Darr, President & CEO of CLIA in an announcement. “This next decade will be one of transformation, and we’re proud to move forward together — elevating global awareness of our industry’s innovation, leadership and positive contributions around the world.”

Noted Michele Paige, CEO of FCCA, “FCCA has enjoyed a powerful and collaborative partnership with Seatrade for more than 30 years, and this agreement is a testament to our commitment of improving together and building for a better future. This also represents opportunities and continued growth for our partners throughout the Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America, and we look forward to enhancing value to our members and assisting with strategic initiatives that bring benefits for all.”

Andrew Williams, EVP of Informa Markets—organizers of Seatrade conferences—added: “We are delighted to confirm this long-term agreement with our valued partners. Strong partnerships are very important to us, so we are delighted to be extending our relationships with CLIA and FCCA, and excited about what more we can do in the next chapter of our collaboration. We share the same goals – to serve and support the growth of the cruise community – and that will remain at the heart of our events. On behalf of the Seatrade Cruise team, I look forward to the next chapter of collaboration and development.”

The partnership will encompass Informa’s portfolio of cruise events, including Seatrade Cruise Global, scheduled for April 13-16, 2026, at the Miami Beach Convention Center, along with other exhibitions, conferences and industry gatherings worldwide.