PHOTO: MSC Cruises executive Ken Muskat is chairing CLIA's trade relations committee. (Courtesy of MSC Cruises)

Ken Muskat, executive vice president of sales, public relations, and guest services for MSC Cruises USA, has been named chairman of the Cruise Lines International Association’s trade relations committee.

In this role, he will lead a committee of his peers and work with CLIA Vice President of Membership Charles Sylvia on travel agency and agent relations, training, professional development programs, partnerships, research and membership initiatives.

“I’ve always recognized CLIA’s efforts to support, educate and engage the travel agent community as vital to the success of the cruise industry,” Muskat said. “I look forward to working with the CLIA team and my fellow member cruise lines to continue to find new and innovative ways to keep travel agencies and agents as the main distribution channel for cruises and profitable for years to come.”

Prior to his role at MSC Cruises, Muskat held senior executive roles in marketing, sales, consumer outreach and onboard revenue at Royal Caribbean International. During this time, he hosted a weekly online radio show that ran for 22 weeks and reached more than 24,000 listeners a week.

A graduate of the University of Hartford, Muskat recently received the University of Hartford Anchor Award, the most prestigious award presented by the university’s Alumni Association.

Muskat assumes the chairmanship from Brian O’Connor, vice president of public relations for Princess Cruises, who left the committee in April after being promoted to his current position. During his chairmanship, O’Connor helped launch the new individual agent membership program for CLIA and new benefits for agents.

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