Nine cruise industry associations have announced they will operate as a unified organization with the goal of serving as the voice of the global cruise industry. Cruise Lines International Association, European Cruise Council, Asia Cruise Association, Passenger Shipping Association, France’s AFCC, Brazil’s ABREMAR, Northwest and Canada Cruise Association, Alaska Cruise Association, and International Cruise Council Australasia now all come under the Cruise Lines International Association, or CLIA, umbrella, while maintaining their existing association offices. The new association’s employees will be located across the globe. Regional and country offices, along with new staff appointments, have yet to be announced.
“The new association was created to provide increased benefits and a globally unified voice for cruise lines, travel agents, and business partners, all of whom contribute to an industry that creates nearly $100 billion in economic impact and more than 753,000 jobs worldwide,” a press release stated.
CLIA will be governed by a Global Executive Committee, chaired by Howard Frank, vice chairman, COO, and member of the executive committee of Carnival Corp. Christine Duffy, president and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association, will serve as president and CEO of the new association, leading a team with responsibilities for international technical and regulatory issues, research, communications, industry relations, and public affairs.
“The new association will play a vital role in proactively shaping the policy and regulatory environments on a global level and promoting cruising with various constituencies through more effective coordination, communication, and stakeholder engagement,” said Carnival’s Frank.
The CLIA global organization will represent the cruise industry at the International Maritime Organization based in London, the International Labour Organization in Geneva, and with other international maritime and shipping organizations around the world.
