Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty is the new chairman of CLIA, succeeding MSC Cruises executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago, who had held the role since January 2021.
Liberty is tasked with being the voice of the cruise industry and leading the association's global executive committee and board of directors. He is also responsible for establishing the group's strategic direction on behalf of CLIA's cruise line members, which represent 95% of cruise operators worldwide.
CLIA president and CEO Kelly Craighead called Liberty a "highly versatile and strategic leader who will help us build on this resurgence of travel and realize our global operating ambitions."
The appointment comes two years after Liberty became president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group following nearly two decades as the company's CFO.
Liberty has led Royal Caribbean Group through a post-pandemic recovery. The company's stock price, which had plummeted from $135 to $23.81, has since nearly returned to 2019 levels, sitting at $126 on Friday. Royal Caribbean Group's chief competitors, Carnival Corp. and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, have both struggled to recover their stock prices.
Liberty said the industry is entering "a new era of cruising" and "doubling down on our commitment to decarbonization and sustainable growth." He said he plans to work with CLIA leadership to position cruise vacations as an "accessible and responsible" option for travelers.
His predecessor Vago leaned heavily into sustainability initiatives both at MSC Cruises and with CLIA.
CLIA reports that 31.5 million passengers sailed in 2023 and about 35 million are expected to sail this year.