Royal Caribbean Group has announced that Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, who has been at the helm of Celebrity Cruises for an illustrious tenure, will transition to Vice Chair, External Affairs for the group. Effective May 1, Lutoff-Perlo will report to Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty in her new role. As a result, Laura Hodges Bethge, currently the executive vice president of shared services operations, will become the next brand president of Celebrity Cruises.
Lutoff-Perlo has played a vital role in transforming Celebrity Cruises into the incredible cruise line it is today. Under her leadership, the brand saw record growth, revenue, and profit and welcomed four new award-winning ships. She also championed the Celebrity Revolution, one of the most significant fleet revitalization projects in the industry. In 2014, Lutoff-Perlo became the first woman appointed president and CEO of one of Royal Caribbean Group's brands. Commenting on Lutoff-Perlo's transition to Vice Chair, External Affairs, Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, said, "Lisa has been instrumental in transforming the Celebrity Cruises brand to what it is today… I have had the pleasure of working with Lisa for almost 18 years, and I know her expertise will be invaluable as she transitions to serve as my Vice Chair, External Affairs."
In her new role, Lutoff-Perlo will work closely with Liberty on broader initiatives for the Royal Caribbean Group. She expressed excitement about the opportunity to work with Liberty and sail towards an even brighter future. However, Lutoff-Perlo said that leaving the Celebrity brand has been difficult for her. She thanked the Celebrity shoreside team and crew and said that their accomplishments together have been extraordinary.
Hodges Bethge has been with the company for over 23 years and has held senior positions in many different areas, including product development, hotel and marine operations, sales, marketing, product innovation, market development, and investor relations. She is an exemplary leader with a long history of success at the company.
In her previous role as senior vice president of product development for Royal Caribbean International, Hodges Bethge led the teams that conceptualized their groundbreaking ships, private island destinations, and new experiences introduced throughout the award-winning fleet, including the first island in Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day Island Collection – Perfect Day at CocoCay.
In her new role as brand president of Celebrity Cruises, Hodges Bethge said that this is an exciting time for the brand as it is now 15 ships strong. This year alone, Celebrity Cruises will be welcoming Celebrity Ascent, and reaching key construction milestones in the yet-to-be-named fifth ship in the revolutionary Edge Series. She expressed her excitement to build on the incredible achievements of Lutoff-Perlo and the world-class team, as they continue to break boundaries and chart new courses in the industry.
In conclusion, the Royal Caribbean Group's decision to transition Lisa Lutoff-Perlo to Vice Chair, External Affairs and appoint Laura Hodges Bethge as the new brand president of Celebrity Cruises reflects the group's commitment to growth and innovation. Both Lutoff-Perlo and Hodges Bethge have a proven track record of success at the company, and their expertise will be invaluable in driving the group's strategic initiatives and growth plans. With this new leadership structure in place, the Royal Caribbean Group is poised for continued success in the years to come.