The 2020 edition of Ocean X-Change® has been postponed due to Crystal Cruises’ cessation of all 2020 sailings.
eGroup Communications and The X-Change® Global MICE Conferences had planned to hold 2020 Ocean X-Change from December 9-16 aboard Crystal Cruises’ Serenity. The conference is now in the process of being rescheduled to 2021.
The decision to postpone the conference was made after Crystal Cruises announced on Friday, July 31, 2020, that it was cancelling all ocean and yacht sailings through December 2020 due to the varying travel restrictions and uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic. The cruise line had recently launched Crystal Clean+® 2.0 – an enhanced level of measures to help safeguard the well-being of its guests and crew.
eGroup reports that planning for the conference was well underway, with more than 100 registered participants and multiple confirmed receptions scheduled to take place over the course of seven days.
The program included one-to-one business meetings between top MICE buyers and suppliers, educational panels by MICE influencers, VIP receptions and excursions and many other social networking opportunities.
eGroup invites all partners to continue their engagement with the event and says it is working towards ensuring the same program with an even greater level of participation in 2021.
In early July, eGroup announced that it was moving ahead with its two face-to-face MICE events: the Land X-Change and the Ocean X-Change.
The 2020 Land X-Change® is being held September 30-October 4, 2020 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. It is set to bring together top MICE buyers and suppliers for one-to-one meetings coupled with opportunities for social networking at dinners, receptions and excursions. and will showcase Montego Bay, Jamaica as an incentive destination. It is being hosted by the Jamaica Tourist Board, Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall/Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall and local partners including Jamaica Tours Limited, Sandals Montego Bay, Iberostar Grand Rose Hall, Half Moon Jamaica, Maui Jim, and SITE Florida & Caribbean. SITE CIS (certified incentive specialist) certification will be offered pre-conference (September 29-30) in Montego Bay.