Kelly Craighead - CLIA February-March 2020 Newsletter

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2020 NEWSLETTER
The health and safety of cruise
passengers and crew, as well as the
people in the communities we visit, is always
the number one priority of CLIA and its member
lines, which make up over 90% of ocean-going
cruise capacity worldwide.
Given the evolving nature of the ongoing
COVID-19—and based upon prevailing guidance
from global health authorities, including the
World Health Organization (WHO)—CLIA
Members have adopted enhanced screening
protocols required for all CLIA cruise line oceangoing
vessels to help prevent the introduction of
the virus on board cruise ships.
In coordination with cruise lines, medical
experts and regulators around the world, CLIA
and its member lines will continue to closely
monitor developments related to COVID-19
and will modify the CLIA Public Health Policy as
necessary in the interest of passengers and
crew, as well as the people in the communities
we visit. With strict measures in place, as
guided by national and international health
authorities, CLIA and its member lines do not
believe restrictions on the movement of ships
are justified.
Importantly, the cruise industry is one of the
most well-equipped and experienced when
it comes to managing and monitoring health
conditions of passengers and crew, with
outbreak prevention and response measures
in place year-round. Furthermore, ships must
be fitted with onboard medical facilities, with
shipboard medical professionals available
around the clock, 24/7, to provide initial medical
care in the event of illness and help prevent
disease transmission.
Other Strategic Communications Actions:
• Developed and continually update topline messages,
public-facing FAQs and internal Q&A to assist in
responding to external inquiries, including members of
the travel trade and media.
• Developed shareable social media content to
amplify key messages via digital channels.
• Created media briefing materials for CLIA and thirdparty
spokespeople, including key messaging points
and interview techniques.
• Engaged research firm to track global sentiment
data to inform crisis response plan and reputationrecovery
planning process.
• Deployed rapid-response media team dedicated
to responding in real-time to reporter inquiries and
disseminating updated information quickly.
• Established media kit on www.cruising.org and
regional CLIA websites in various languages to
house all public-facing materials, including the
latest CLIA statement and measures in place,
external FAQs, Sample Traveler Questionnaire,
infographics and links to important news articles
and CLIA media engagements.
• Activated research team to monitor developments
and prepare daily “Facts and Figures” to share with
CLIA leadership, including spokespeople, to stay
informed.
• Engaged external partners and allies, including
USTA, WTTC, UNWTO and others to share messaging
and updates and begin laying the groundwork for
reputation-recovery planning process.
Global Government Affairs
North America
• Proactively contacted key congressional committee
members and staff to ensure open lines of
communication with the cruise industry and to avoid
adverse policy responses.
• Engaged officials at the Centers for Disease Control,
the Department of State, and the White House
COVID-19 Task Force.
• Requested that White House Task Force advise CLIA
before further advisories or guidance is issued by U.S.
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