'I'm a go-getter. I want to help a cruise line or a port,' Lehman said.
He'd hoped to stay on the job—he's gm cruise and real estate—to usher in Charleston's new cruise terminal but Lehman thinks the facility may be in the courts system another couple years, and the enticing buyout came at a time when he's achieved every other goal. Charleston is chock-a-block at its self-imposed limit of 104 cruise calls per year. So June 30 is his last day.
'Peter has been a key driver in Carnival’s success in the Charleston market,' according to Terry Thornton, svp port operations, guest care and Carnival international. 'He has been a true supporter for us in every aspect of our operation and a leader in helping us continue to improve the experience for our guests.'
Thornton continued: 'We sincerely appreciate all of Peter’s efforts to help Carnival develop our cruise product from Charleston and represent our interests so well throughout the community. Our important partnership with Charleston will live on and we will make every effort to make Peter proud.'
Charleston's cruise business comprised a healthy 8% of the South Carolina Ports Authority's operating earnings in 2016. By the end of 2017, cruise revenues will top $10m with the 104 calls carrying 225,000 passengers. That's up from revenues of just under $2.5m and 41 ship calls carrying 47,300 passengers in 2009.
'Rates are strong. We've turned away 18 cruise calls for 2017 already. 2018 is sold out, 2019 we assume will sell out again and that's probably going to be true for 2020,' Lehman said.
'I'm like the Maytag repairman,' he joked, citing a commercial that conveys repairmen are idle since Maytag appliances are so good. 'I'm twiddling my thumbs but I want to be selling.'
With a background in law and real estate, Lehman joined the South Carolina Ports Authority 20 years ago as executive assistant to president and ceo Bernie Groseclose. He was promoted to a strategic planning and business development role then to vp cruise sales and real estate by current ports president and ceo Jim Newsome, a great supporter of cruising in Charleston. His title changed to gm a little over a year ago.
When cruise sales became part of Lehman's job, 'it was fertile ground to grow the business.' Now, Charleston is in demand and with its sole year-round cruise line, Carnival, having priority, that leaves only about 18 to 23 slots a year open for other operators.
So the job is changing during this evolutionary period until a new cruise terminal gets approved. Jeff Hollis, manager of cruise and parking, will be assuming Lehman's duties. (Suzanne Kaiser, manager of cruise development, is taking the early buyout, too.) Lehman will be introducing Hollis to contacts at Seatrade Cruise Global next week.
Lehman himself becomes available to jump into a new challenge from July 1. He's 'open to anything' but hopes it will be cruise industry-related.
'Dealing with the cruise lines is really a fun challenge. It's a great business, a growing business. But the personalities in the cruise business are what I enjoy most. I like the people—the people at the ports, the cruise lines and the companies that consult for them,' he said.
Lehman's proud of bridging issues and forging partnerships with cruise lines and entities like Customs and Border Protection, the International Longshoremen's Association, Intercruises, port police and security.
He has been an active participant in Cruise Lines International Association, the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, the Association of American Port Authorities and Canada/New England cruise symposia.
'All of these were great vehicles to meet other industry players and learn about the business. The ability to create relationships and make friends is as important to me as the business and, really, I think business depends on this,' he said.
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