Cruise
Lines International Association (CLIA) just announced the appointment of
Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal
Caribbean Group, as its Chairman, as voted upon by its Board of Directors. Liberty
takes the reins from Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises
S.A., who has held the position since January 2021.
“On behalf of the
CLIA community including ocean, river, and specialty cruise lines, suppliers,
business partners, travel advisers, and agencies, I would like to congratulate
Mr. Liberty on his appointment as CLIA chair. Mr. Liberty assumes the chairmanship
at a time when the industry is building on the momentum of strong demand and
our members are advancing ambitious sustainability initiatives in pursuit of
achieving net-zero emissions by 2050” said Kelly Craighead, president and CEO
of CLIA.
“Mr. Liberty is a
highly versatile and strategic leader who will help us build on this resurgence
of travel and realize our global operating ambitions," she said. “I would
also like to thank Mr. Vago for his leadership as chair over the past three
years, navigating challenging times and creating a solid foundation for the
industry’s future growth,” Craighead added.
Liberty assumed
the position of President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group in early 2022, having
previously served as the company's Chief Financial Officer for many years, and brings
nearly two decades of experience in the cruise industry to his new role with
CLIA. Liberty played a pivotal role in driving significant gains for the Group
last year, making it one of the top-performing stocks.
As the head of
Royal Caribbean Group, Liberty oversees three industry-leading brands: Royal
Caribbean International, Celebrity
Cruises and Silversea,
all of which are famous for their boundary-breaking innovations in their
respective segments. Additionally, he manages joint ventures with TUI Cruises
and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises in Germany, of which the company holds a 50 percent
ownership.
“I am excited and
honored to lead this organization as we enter a new era of cruising. With
consumer demand continuing to accelerate, we are doubling down on our
commitment to decarbonization and sustainable growth, ensuring that we are not
only investing in our oceans and communities, but preserving them for
generations of travelers to come,” Liberty said. “I look forward to working
with CLIA leadership and our partners around the world to further position
cruise vacations as an accessible and responsible option for today’s travelers
that create positive ripple effects across the globe.”
The cruise industry,
currently among the fastest-growing travel and tourism sectors, is anticipated
to have reached 106 percent of 2019’s pre-pandemic levels in 2023, with an
estimated 31.5 million passengers having sailed last year. Further growth is
anticipated in 2024, with about 35 million passengers forecasted to set sail
this year.
In his role as
CLIA Chairman, Liberty will provide leadership to the CLIA Global Executive
Committee and the Board of Directors, steering the overall strategic direction
of the association on behalf of its cruise line members, which constitute 95
percent of the world's ocean-going cruise lines.
In line with CLIA's
long-term strategy, member lines have established some impressive
sustainability goals, embracing new technologies and innovations to enhance
efficiency and, where possible, the adoption of sustainable alternative fuels.
CLIA serves as a unified voice for the global cruise line industry, advocating
for cruise lines, suppliers, business partners and a far-reaching travel
advisor community.
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