By
Rebecca Gibson |
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has established a Global Ports Committee, enabling it to focus on directly engaging with global port communities on operational and strategic issues.
Chaired by Carnival’s Giora Israel, the Global Ports Committee includes Tom Spina of Norwegian Cruise Line, Gianluca Suprani of MSC Cruises and John Tercek of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. The committee will serve as a forum where cruise lines and ports from around the world can come together to discuss port-related issues, fully integrating port development and operations within the wider cruise industry.
“I am honoured to serve as chair of the Global Ports Committee, which will play an integral role in strengthening the relationships between cruise lines and port communities,” said Israel. “Both cruise lines and destinations can benefit significantly by providing excellent service to passengers who embark and disembark cruise ships. Establishing this committee together with my colleagues from the other cruise companies will further our mutual goals of maximising the positive impact of cruise tourism.”
CLIA has also appointed Bo Larsen, former director of the Cruise Copenhagen Network and Cruise Baltic, as director of port engagement and business development on its redesigned Executive Partner programme.
In this role, Larsen will initially have responsibility as the staff liaison to the regional ports committee in Europe and executive partner business development for Northern Europe. He will support Didier Scaillet, CLIA Global’s vice president of business development, who serves as the staff liaison to the Global Ports Committee.
“Bo’s strong background in cruise port development, international sales and marketing expertise, strong relationships with port representatives, and success growing the cruise industry’s presence in Copenhagen and the Baltic region make him an ideal fit to represent CLIA in this important new position,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, chairman of CLIA Europe and executive chairman of MSC Cruises.
Larsen joins CLIA on 1 March 2014.