CLIA Conference 2024 Speaker & Special Guests Guide
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23 - 25 may <strong>2024</strong><br />
<strong>Speaker</strong>s<br />
& SPECIAL GUESTS<br />
cruising.org @cliauk cliaeurope cliaeuro cliaeurope
Mel Evans<br />
PArtnerships & Projects Editor<br />
Mel has been at Metro.co.uk since 2017, first writing about<br />
glamorous, famous people as Deputy Entertainment Editor before<br />
she moved into her role as Partnerships and Projects editor in<br />
early 2023, leading cross platform partnerships on Metro print<br />
and online. Now her days are focused on bringing all the brilliant<br />
travel editorial to life to the millions of daily readers, across<br />
various touchpoints and watching Metro’s engagement flourish<br />
across the brand.<br />
23 - 25 may <strong>2024</strong>
Phil Hullah<br />
CEO<br />
Phil has been CEO of Riviera Travel since March 2020, joining just<br />
before COVID, initially guiding the business through the pandemic,<br />
overseeing its successful reemergence and now steering Riviera<br />
into a very exciting phase of innovation and growth<br />
Prior to Riviera, Phil has held a number of senior positions in a wide range of digitally<br />
orientated consumer business including being MD of Laithwaites Wine, CEO of<br />
AVADO Learning and Commercial & Digital Director of John Lewis<br />
23 - 25 may <strong>2024</strong>
Kelly Craighead<br />
President & CEO<br />
Kelly Craighead is President and CEO of Cruise Lines International<br />
Association (<strong>CLIA</strong>), representing an expansive community of<br />
the world's most prestigious ocean, river, and specialty cruise<br />
lines; a highly trained and certified travel agent community;<br />
and a widespread network of stakeholders, including ports &<br />
destinations, ship development, suppliers, and business services.<br />
As President and CEO, Kelly is responsible for leading the organization’s work as the<br />
leading authority and voice of the industry across the association’s five operating<br />
regions, including North America, Europe, Australasia, Brazil, the United Kingdom<br />
and Ireland. An important part of her leadership is directing the development<br />
and execution of the organization’s advocacy strategy and initiatives, which are<br />
designed to support the broad international business coalition that comprises the<br />
global cruise industry.<br />
Under her leadership, <strong>CLIA</strong> and its members are paving the way in responsible<br />
tourism practices, significantly increasing the industry’s collective investment<br />
in research, development, and education, as well as executing advocacy and<br />
promotional efforts that add and create value for the cruise community and its<br />
partners.<br />
Kelly joined <strong>CLIA</strong> in January 2019, bringing with her over 20 years of executive<br />
leadership experience from both the public and private sectors, including serving<br />
as the Deputy Assistant for Travel and Tourism, the U.S. Government’s senior<br />
representative for Travel and Tourism.<br />
23 - 25 may <strong>2024</strong>
Nirmal Saverimutt<br />
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER<br />
Nirmal is a founding member of Virgin Voyages, joining the brand<br />
in 2015 to craft the initial business plan and secure funding. He<br />
has worked within Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group for 17 years,<br />
having started his career at Goldman Sachs.<br />
As Chief Executive Officer, Nirmal is part of creating an Epic Sea Change, responsible<br />
for all sailor facing and commercial operations. Nirmal is part of the founding team<br />
of Virgin Voyages where he crafted the Company’s initial business plan and was<br />
part of the team that sourced the Company’s start-up funding.<br />
Before joining Virgin Voyages, Nirmal served as Principal at Virgin Group based<br />
in New York City, where he oversaw Virgin’s investments in North America with a<br />
focus particularly on the funding and creation of Virgin America and Virgin Hotels.<br />
Prior to that, Nirmal worked in the Investment Banking Division of Goldman Sachs &<br />
Co. Nirmal is Sri Lankan, was born in Zambia and has lived in the UK and Australia.<br />
He resides in Boca Raton, FL with his wife, Leandra and two children. Nirmal has an<br />
MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of<br />
Commerce (First Class Honors) from the University of Sydney.<br />
23 - 25 may <strong>2024</strong>
DONDRA RITZENTHALER<br />
Incoming CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER<br />
Dondra Ritzenthaler is the incoming Chief Executive Officer of<br />
Azamara Cruises, an award-winning, high-end, small ship cruise<br />
line based in Miami-Florida.<br />
A 40-year veteran of the travel industry executive,Dondra recently left her position<br />
as Senior Vice President of Sales, Trade Support and Services forthe Americas for<br />
Celebrity Cruises. In this role, she oversaw nearly 700 employees including the<br />
Marketing Sales Directors and Managers, Strategic Marketing Managers, Charter<br />
Sales, Inside Sales Representatives, National and Corporate Account Managers<br />
in the field, and the support staff at corporate headquarters in Miami. Dondra also<br />
led National Accounts, Trade Support and Service, including Reservations, Group<br />
Sales, and Customer Service, as well as the line's Consumer Outreach division,<br />
Onboard Cruise Sales and internal SalesSupport.<br />
In her 20 years with Royal Caribbean/CelebrityCruises, Dondra is widely credited<br />
for raising awareness of the importance of travel advisors. She created multiple<br />
travel advisor facing programs designed to help build their business.<br />
Dondra is also a well-respected member of the community. She serves families on<br />
the Board of Directors of the Jack and Jill Late-Stage Cancer.<br />
23 - 25 may <strong>2024</strong>
JASON WORTH<br />
VICE PRESIDENTINTERNATIONAL SALES<br />
Jason Worth is Oceania Cruises’ Vice President, International<br />
Sales, a role he has held since August 2023, heading up the line’s<br />
sales operations in the UK, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America<br />
and Brazil.<br />
Prior to this he was, responsible for the strategic expansion, vision and continued<br />
growth of the company’s presence in the fast-growing Asia-Pacific market.<br />
Jason has worked for Oceania Cruises’ parent company, Norwegian Cruise Line<br />
Holdings since 2011. He has held a number of positions including Oceania Cruises<br />
Vice President, Sales & General Manager, Asia Pacific; and Vice President Finance<br />
& Accounting – Asia Pacific at NCLH, and roles in Finance, Treasury and Investor<br />
Relations.<br />
Jason is an active member of the <strong>CLIA</strong> Australasia Executive Committee.<br />
23 - 25 may <strong>2024</strong>
Paul Ludlow<br />
President<br />
Paul Ludlow was appointed Carnival UK president in June 2023<br />
in addition to his leadership role for P&O Cruises.<br />
In his consolidated position, Ludlow has accountability for Carnival UK which<br />
includes P&O Cruises and Cunard globally.<br />
With over 20 years experience in the cruise industry, his remit also includes the<br />
continued development of P&O Cruises, the UK’s market leading cruise line, for<br />
which he has held responsibility since 2018. This includes the two LNG-powered<br />
185,000 tonne Excel class ships – Iona, which joined the fleet in May 2021 and Arvia,<br />
launched in December 2022. These ships continue the evolution of the company<br />
with contemporary innovations, brand partnerships and guest experiences.<br />
Cunard expanded its fleet with the delivery of Queen Anne in May <strong>2024</strong> which will<br />
build on the rich legacy of this exceptional brand.<br />
23 - 25 may <strong>2024</strong>
LAURA HODGES BETHGE<br />
President<br />
Laura Hodges Bethge is president of Celebrity Cruises, one of five<br />
cruise brands owned by global cruise company Royal Caribbean<br />
Group. She assumed the role on May 1, 2023, ascending from<br />
executive vice president of shared services operations, responsible<br />
for Royal Caribbean Group’s safety, security and environment,<br />
risk management and crew movement teams.<br />
Prior to that, Laura was senior vice president of product development for Royal<br />
Caribbean International and led the teams conceptualizing the largest global cruise<br />
line’s groundbreaking ships, private island destinations, and new experiences<br />
introduced throughout the award-winning fleet, including the first island in Royal<br />
Caribbean’s Perfect Day Island Collection – Perfect Day at CocoCay.<br />
Over more than two decades, Laura also held positions with the company in hotel<br />
and marine operations, sales, marketing, international market development and<br />
investor relations.<br />
23 - 25 may <strong>2024</strong>
Katie McAlister<br />
President<br />
Katie McAlister was appointed President of Cunard in August<br />
2023 and is charged with overseeing the strategic direction of<br />
the business as well as delivering the launch of Cunard’s newest<br />
ship, Queen Anne.<br />
Katie joined Cunard following a 20-year career with TUI – most recently as Chief<br />
Marketing Officer, UK & Ireland. Her remit saw her lead on sales channels and<br />
marketing in the UK & Ireland for TUI, First Choice and Marella Cruises, alongside a<br />
global responsibility for the TUI brand and digital marketing.<br />
A dynamic and forward-thinking leader, Katie boasts a plethora of commercial and<br />
operational experience, as well as digital transformation expertise and strategic<br />
aptitude.<br />
She joins Cunard at an exciting time for the British heritage brand as they look to<br />
increase brand awareness and their status as a leading luxury cruise line ahead of<br />
the introduction of Queen Anne in May <strong>2024</strong>.<br />
23 - 25 may <strong>2024</strong>
Jeff Corwin<br />
nature & adventure ambassador<br />
For nearly three decades, Jeff Corwin has been telling stories<br />
of wildlife and nature to a global audience through his many<br />
celebrated television series on ABC, NBC, Travel Channel, CNN,<br />
Food Network, Disney Channel, and Discovery Networks.<br />
Jeff is currently the creator, executive producer, and presenter of the groundbreaking<br />
television series Wildlife Nation, which debuted as the top-rated TV programme<br />
on ABC in October 2021. Wildlife Nation explores the remarkable story of North<br />
American conservation.<br />
Jeff’s television work has been awarded multiple Emmys and the top broadcast<br />
industry awards. Jeff’s acclaimed NBC documentary and book, 100 Heartbeats,<br />
engaged both the readers and broadcast audience in the 21st Century plight of<br />
endangered species. In addition, Jeff has authored 10 books on wildlife and nature,<br />
including Living on the Edge, Amazing Relationships in the Nature World.<br />
Jeff and Carnival Corporation partnered to create the wildly popular ABC series<br />
Ocean Treks, which introduced millions of viewers to adventure, nature, and<br />
culturally focused cruising. Ocean Treks’ mission is to inspire a deeper connection<br />
to sustainability and our planet’s natural treasures. Today, Jeff serves as Ambassador<br />
of Environmental Excellence, Nature, and Adventure for Princess Cruises. When<br />
Jeff is not exploring the world, you can find him at his island home off Cape Cod,<br />
where he exercises his maritime muscles as a passionate commercial fisherman.<br />
23 - 25 may <strong>2024</strong>