Lisa Lutoff-Perlo

Lisa Lutoff-Perlo is a global business leader in the travel and hospitality industry, recognized for her appointment as the first woman to serve as president and CEO of a Royal Caribbean Group cruise line brand. Lutoff-Perlo led Celebrity Cruises, becoming the first woman to head one of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.'s brands and the first female CEO of a publicly traded cruise line on the New York Stock Exchange. Her career includes roles such as district sales manager, vice president of onboard revenue, head of hotel operations, executive vice president of operations, and president and CEO of Celebrity Cruises.

Lutoff-Perlo played a significant role in shaping the modern luxury cruise experience, overseeing the launch of the Edge Series ships, which were recognized on TIME Magazine's World's Greatest Places list and received numerous awards for innovation and service. Under her leadership, Celebrity Cruises doubled operating income, achieved double-digit return on invested capital and yield growth, and introduced ships such as the Solstice Class, Edge Series, and the Galapagos-based Celebrity Flora. Lutoff-Perlo also hired Captain Kate McCue, the first American woman to captain a cruise ship.

She led the cruise industry’s return to service following a 15-month pandemic shutdown, with Celebrity Edge becoming the first ship approved to sail from a U.S. port. Lutoff-Perlo returned the entire Celebrity fleet of 15 ships to operations and launched two additional Edge Series ships, Celebrity Apex and Celebrity Beyond. She increased the percentage of women on Celebrity's bridges from three percent to 33 percent, advancing gender equity in the cruise industry.

Lutoff-Perlo has received awards for her contributions to the cruise industry, travel industry, South Florida business community, gender equality, and diversity and inclusion. Honors include an honorary doctorate from Nova Southeastern University; lifetime achievement awards from South Florida Business Journal, Cruise Line Industry Association, and Women in Travel; induction into the International Hall of Fame by the Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey; a leadership in diversity award from the Committee for Economic Development; and the Eleanor Roosevelt Center Val-Kill Medal of Honor. She and Celebrity Cruises were named the number-one woman-led business in Florida by The Commonwealth Institute of South Florida.

Lutoff-Perlo is the author of the autobiography "Making Waves: A Woman's Rise to the Top Using Smarts, Heart, and Courage," which details her leadership philosophy and career journey. She has also served as president and CEO of the FIFA World Cup Miami Host Committee, overseeing strategy, fundraising, fan activations, and operations for the FIFA World Cup matches. Lutoff-Perlo’s career, from entry-level travel sales to leading a global luxury cruise brand, positions her as an authoritative voice on leadership, resilience, and advancing diversity in the travel and hospitality sectors.