The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has announced the appointment of Tom Fecke as Secretary General of CLIA Europe, effective January 3, 2017. Fecke will be responsible for leading the European region and will play a crucial role in implementing CLIA Global programs on the continent.
Fecke, with extensive experience in the travel industry, began his career as a travel agent. He holds a Master of Business Administration and has held management positions at Galileo/Travelport and Avis Rent-a-Car. For over eight years, he worked at RCL Cruises as Regional Managing Director. His responsibilities included managing the German, Austrian, and Swiss markets for numerous brands, including Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Azamara Club Cruises.
Previously, Fecke served as Managing Director of TravelIndustry Club, the leading business association in Germany and Austria. With over 800 members across 32 segments of the travel industry, he was responsible for connecting key decision-makers and managing networking events within the leisure and business travel communities to raise the profile of the travel industry.
“Tom’s extensive experience in the travel industry makes him a key asset to our team,” said Cindy D’Aoust, President and CEO of CLIA. “The European cruise market has experienced impressive growth in recent years, and I look forward to working with Tom to ensure the future success of the cruise market across Europe.”.
Fecke will replace Raphael Von Heereman, who has held this position at CLIA since February 2015.
“During his time at CLIA Europe, Raphael has been an invaluable member of our team, and I thank him for his dedication and commitment over the past two years,” said D’Aoust. “He brought a wealth of knowledge and experience from the aviation sector that helped us develop an effective industry support program, and I wish him success in his future endeavors.”.
