Skift Take
The incoming Cruise Lines International Association CEO knows her way around Washington, D.C. and has a background in travel and tourism. That should be enough for a good start, but the cruise industry is complicated enough that she'll have plenty of work ahead.
Cruise Lines International Association has named its latest leader: Kelly Craighead, the former executive director of the National Travel and Tourism Office and a longtime D.C. insider who served under two presidential administrations.
She joins the cruise association during a period of robust growth — 28 million people are expected to cruise worldwide in 2018, up from 21.3 million in 2013. But that growth comes with some concerns that the industry has been forced to address, including issues surrounding overtourism and worries from Wall Street about whether demand can keep up with all the supply growth on the horizon.
Craighead, who starts as president and CEO Jan. 1, will be the cruise industry group's fourth CEO since 2014. She replaces Cindy D'Aoust, who said in July she planned to leave by the end of the year to "focus on family priorities."
In a statement, CLIA said Craighead will direct the global team — which includes 15 offices around the world — to "continue to un
