This Week in Cruise: New Faces at CLIA and Royal Caribbean

charles sylvia
Charles Sylvia, vice president, trade relations, CLIA

This week in the cruise industry saw the addition of some major new executives at Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and Royal Caribbean International.

CLIA announced that Charles Sylvia will be joining the organization as vice president of trade relations, effective March 2.

Sylvia will work directly with travel agencies and agents, focused on CLIA member engagement and retention. He will be the primary liaison to CLIA’s Diamond and Gold Premium travel agency members, which is comprised of the largest travel agencies, hosts and consortia, and the sales and trade relations executives at CLIA member cruise lines. Additionally, Sylvia will drive the enhancement of the agent professional development and certification programs. He will report directly to Cindy D’Aoust, executive vice president, membership and operations.

Dwain Wall, CLIA's previous senior vice president, travel agency and trade relations, left the organization in early November of last year. Wall is currently co-president and COO of WorldCruise.cn, a bilingual website that caters to Chinese-speaking travel agents and consumers globally.

Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean International named Mark Tamis senior vice president of hotel operations

Tamis will have oversight of the line's hotel services, food, beverage, entertainment and private destinations, and will report directly to Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International.

A 25-year travel industry veteran, Tamis most recently served as senior vice president, guest operations with Carnival Cruise Lines.

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