Melissa Arabitg, Carnival Cruise Line. (Photo Credit: Melissa Arabitg)
Bio
For the past 11 years at Carnival Cruise Line, Melissa Arabitg has had the privilege of partnering with travel advisors, helping create programs, campaigns, and resources that support their success and strengthen their connection to the Carnival brand. Her passion for the travel industry and cruising, however, started long before her career at Carnival. First, as a child, through her uncle, who owned a travel agency and introduced her to cruising for the first time, and later through her passion for advertising, leading campaigns for top hospitality brands, and through her own travel experiences with her family.
Today, Arabitg oversees many of Carnival's most impactful trade marketing channels and initiatives, including GoCCL.com, trade email marketing, trade media, trade social media, travel advisor training programs, strategic partnerships, and integrated marketing campaigns. Her focus has always been on delivering tools, education, communications, and experiences that help travel advisors grow their business, better serve their clients, and confidently sell Carnival vacations.
One of her proudest accomplishments was contributing towards the launch of Funnel Faves, Carnival's signature travel advisor recognition and engagement program built around the belief that "Travel Advisors are the Heart of Great Vacations." Since launching in 2025, the program has reached millions of advisors through trade email, media, social channels, webinars, industry events, and advisor communications. During its inaugural month-long celebration, more than 100,000 Travel Advisors participated in rewards programs, recognition initiatives, educational experiences, and exclusive events designed to celebrate and support the advisor community.
Building on that success, she also led the development of Funnel Faves Wave Arcade, a gamified Wave Season campaign that combined education, engagement, rewards, and bookings into a fun and interactive experience for travel advisors.
Melissa Arabitg is currently 39 years old.
"I couldn’t be more honored or excited for this amazing recognition!” said Arabitg. “Travel is not only something I love to do, but an industry I’m truly passionate about and feel lucky to have been a part of for over a decade. Being named to TravelPulse’s 40 Under 40 is incredibly rewarding, especially alongside so many talented professionals making an impact on our industry.
“It’s also a reminder that no career is built alone. I’m especially thankful for my incredible team, leaders and peers at Carnival who have guided and supported me along the way, my family, of course, and the meaningful relationships I’ve built with our travel advisors and industry partners. I truly wouldn’t be here without them.
“As a marketing professional, I love finding creative ways to build campaigns and programs that make a real impact and help our travel advisors grow their businesses. And ultimately, what’s more fun than inspiring people to take more vacations? Because really, who doesn’t want to travel, try new foods, meet new people, and see more of the world?"
Industry References
“She is a quiet, behind-the-scenes driver of innovation and thought leadership,” explained Meegan Broussard, AVP, Trade Marketing and Sales Development. “She is creative, nimble and knows how to achieve lots with little. And Melissa demonstrates an unwavering commitment to her customers, who include travel advisors, frontline travel advisors, agency executives and Carnival's own BDM team. ‘I don't know, Ask Melissa’ is a common refrain at Carnival's HQ office in Miami. Yet, she remains eternally humble.
“She is a team leader that newer colleagues admire and the kind of manager that all of us want to be ‘when we grow up,’ no matter our tenure in the industry. She is a model of the Carnival culture and values, consistently demonstrating strengths in listening, speaking up, respect and continuous improvement. And she champions those qualities in those around her.
“But perhaps most importantly, especially with TravelPulse's 40 under 40 in mind, Melissa embodies the qualities that define the future of the travel industry: innovation, creativity, pushing boundaries, next-level thinking and a focused drive for excellence,” finished Broussard.
“We have worked with Melissa for about 10 years and been thrilled to watch her growth and success each year,” said Jennifer Beber, president of the ad agency Beber Silverstein Group. “From the moment we began working with Melissa it was clear she was special. She has always approached every project – big or small – with a driving desire to make it work more effectively for her clients, the Carnival sales team and the travel advisors they support. And she does it all with a positive energy that inspires everyone around her to do more.
“Melissa has helped re-invent Carnival’s big travel trade summer programs and campaigns to keep them fresh and in demand. She has shepherded campaigns year after year to support and encourage travel advisors – to help them bring in first-time cruisers, sell groups and increase their own earnings, attract various niche or targeted markets, and much more,” continued Beber.
“She anticipates potential challenges and is always out in front to ensure things run smoothly and she makes it seem effortless. She is intuitive and strategic, and helped make the recent sales leadership transition seamless. She has grown from mentee to mentor with grace, intelligence and warmth. She is a cheerleader in the best sense, able to elicit extra effort and loyalty from everyone around her.”
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