CLIA Announces Transition in Management of Travel Agent Program

Dwain Wall to depart CLIA at end of 2014 for new opportunity in the travel industry

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Cruise Lines International Association

Nov 07, 2014, 11:29 ET

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) announced today that Dwain Wall will be leaving the association at the end of the year. Wall has accepted a new position and will be remaining in the travel industry, with details expected to be shared in the coming weeks.

"I want to thank Dwain for his dedication and many contributions to CLIA over the past year. His leadership on the development of CLIA's new value proposition for travel agent members and successfully transitioning the program to better serve this vital segment of our membership is greatly appreciated," said Christine Duffy, CLIA president and CEO. "I am delighted to know that Dwain will still be part of the travel industry, and I look forward to working with him in his new capacity."

On October 1^st under Wall's leadership, CLIA launched an innovative redesign of the travel agent and travel agency membership program, which was created "for Travel Agents by Travel Agents", stated Dwain Wall. The new program reaffirms CLIA's commitment to its travel agent partners, and features hundreds of exclusive cruise line benefits and training opportunities for members.

"I am very proud of all that has been achieved during my time with CLIA, and I am encouraged to see what incredible value CLIA continues to place on travel professionals," said Wall. "While I am stepping into a new role outside the organization, I will be remaining within the cruise industry in an exciting new global capacity. I look forward to continuing to further my relationships with CLIA's agent and cruise line partners in my new position."

A search for Wall's replacement is underway. During the transition, Mark Conroy, former CEO of Regent Cruise Lines and currently a consultant and strategic advisor to CLIA, will expand his time with CLIA, taking on the leadership role with CLIA travel agency members. Natasha Schooling, a former Bain consultant and lead strategist for the new travel agent membership program, will continue her work on the new program and is also supporting the redesign of CLIA training and certification programs in 2015. To this end, CLIA is happy to share that Carol Davis, an experienced instructional designer, joined the organization in October to lead the redesign of CLIA's training and certification programs.

About CLIA
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is the world's largest cruise industry trade association with representation in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australasia. CLIA represents the interests of cruise lines and travel agents before regulatory and legislative policy makers. CLIA is also engaged in travel agent training, research and marketing communications to promote the value and desirability of cruise holiday vacations with thousands of travel agency and travel agent members.

CLIA North America is comprised of 26 cruise lines and 10,500 travel agencies representing more than 35,000 individual travel agents. In addition, more than 120 of the most innovative suppliers of goods and services to the cruise industry make up CLIA's Executive Partner Program.

For more information on CLIA, the cruise industry, and CLIA-member cruise lines and travel agencies, visit www.cruising.org.

SOURCE Cruise Lines International Association