Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) appoints Kelly Craighead as its President and CEO

Saturday, December 8, 2018

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has appointed Kelly Craighead as President and Chief Executive Officer from January 1, 2019.

Craighead has spent over 15 years in the public and private sectors, recently serving as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism in the U.S. Department of Commerce where she prioritized travel and tourism within the Administration and with Congress. As the first Executive Director of the National Travel & Tourism Office, Craighead led initiatives that generated over $250 billion annually from international visitors to the U.S. She also represented the U.S. internationally. Craighead remains active in global tourism efforts and is associated with several international organizations focused on advancing travel and tourism.

In the role of President and CEO, Craighead will direct CLIA’s global team for unifying, representing, advocating and promoting the common interests of the organization’s members and the global cruise industry. Among her top priorities will be to share the tremendous value and excitement of cruise travel – making it the best holiday or vacation choice for every traveler around the world.

To quote Craighead, “Demand for cruising is exhibiting strong growth, making the cruise industry a critical partner to localities, regions and nations around the world. I am excited to be joining such a strong and well-respected organization at an important time for the industry. I look forward to listening, learning, and better understanding the needs of our members and building on the strong foundation and success of the current team, in order to most effectively lead CLIA in the years ahead.”

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