Former Celebrity Cruises president and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo has officially left Royal Caribbean Group and will now lead the FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee.
Lisa Lutoff-Perlo Photo Credit: Courtesy of Royal Caribbean Group
She started as CEO and president of the host committee on April 29, following her planned departure from Royal Caribbean Group on April 25.
"When the World Cup is happening, the world stops and pays attention," she said. "I might now know everything about soccer, but I am smart enough to know I need to surround myself with really smart people that are going to help me make this a success."
Lutoff-Perlo is one of the few former CEOs from outside the sports industry to lead a FIFA World Cup 2026 host committee.
In her new role, Lutoff-Perlo is tasked with driving collaboration between public and private sector leaders to welcome up to 600,000 fans to South Florida in the summer of 2026. Miami will host seven matches, including the third-place match.
She said the lessons she learned during her cruise industry experience and her leadership style will translate into this new role through her understanding of what customers want and creating experiences customized to that. She said she also wants to leave a legacy of impact and lead with strong financial management.
Cruise had been identified as a potential industry for sponsorships due to the games in South Florida, she said, adding she is "sure that one or two friends within the cruise industry will be part of this amazing event." However, she said she will not be purposefully weaving her cruise influences into the events, characterizing this shift as a new chapter in her career.
The World Cup offers an "unbelievable opportunity" for the travel industry, both globally and nationally, she said, noting millions of people from across the globe will visit North America for five weeks in 2026, requiring millions of airline tickets and hotel rooms.
This is especially important for travel advisors who serve clients in Europe, South America, the Caribbean, Russia and elsewhere as they travel for the games, she said.
The 11 host cities in the U.S. are Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, the San Francisco Bay area and Seattle. Other host cities are Toronto and Vancouver in Canada, and Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey in Mexico.
Lutoff-Perlo departed Royal Caribbean Group on April 25 following a one-year commitment to serve as Royal Caribbean Group's vice chair of external affairs. The position followed nearly 40 years working in cruising and just under a decade as Celebrity's CEO.
In addition to her cruise tenure, Lutoff-Perlo is on the board of directors for AutoNation and serves as chair of the United Way of Broward County. She is also the author of "Making Waves: A Woman's Rise to the Top Using Smarts, Heart, and Courage, a book that reflects on her leadership in the cruise industry.
Update: A new photo of Lisa Lutoff-Perlo has been added.