WASHINGTON, D.C. — Vicki Freed, Senior VP of Sales, Trade Support and Service for Royal Caribbean International, has been named chair of the CLIA Trade Relations Committee.

In this role Freed will lead the committee which consists of senior leadership within the sales and marketing divisions of CLIA’s Cruise Line Members. The Trade Relations Committee works to empower travel agencies and agents to grow consumer, media and industry awareness of the merits of cruise travel and the cruise industry’s unwavering commitment to safety, security, health and sustainability.

“Vicki Freed wrote the book on trade engagement in the cruise industry and we are thrilled to have her leading our Trade Relations Committee,” said Charles Sylvia, Vice President, Membership and Trade Relations. “Vicki is recognized as a strong supporter of travel agencies and agents, and serving as TRC chair will elevate her ability to champion for the trade at the industry level.”

Freed oversees Royal Caribbean International’s sales force, the largest sales team in the cruise industry, and manages the Trade Support and Service division. Prior to that, she served in various roles with Carnival Cruise Lines for 29 years, spending the last 15 as Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing.

Freed assumes the chairmanship from Ken Muskat, formally Executive VP of Sales, Public Relations and Guest Services, MSC Cruises, who left the committee in 2016.