CLIA inducts Carnival's Adolfo Perez into 2022 Hall of FameCLIA inducts Carnival's Adolfo Perez into 2022 Hall of Fame

Perez has championed cruise travel since starting with Carnival as an embarkation agent at PortMiami in 1982.

He was inducted into the CLIA Hall of Fame Thursday night during Cruise360 in Fort Lauderdale, where he was introduced by Carnival EVP and Chief Commercial Officer Ken Tate. The honor coincides with Perez marking 40 years with Carnival at the same time the line celebrates its 50th birthday.

Also inducted into the 2022 Hall of Fame were Danny Genung as travel agency innovator and Christopher Grum for the elite cruise counsellar award. 

'It still feels like a family'

'Despite the fact we have grown into a huge travel leisure company with nine brands, from the Carnival Cruise Line side, it still feels like a family,' Perez said. 'I’m proud to be part of this family — this company and industry. It’s been an amazing 40 years and I look forward to more fun with the Carnival family ahead.'

Perez has served as the VP of Carnival’s Contact Center and opened Carnival’s London office as VP Carnival UK and Ireland before being promoted to his SVP role for the company’s consumer and trade businesses in the UK, Ireland and Australia.

Integral part of Carnival's success

'Adolfo epitomizes the essence of partnership and support to our travel partners, and he has enhanced the impact our company has in continuing to deliver memorable vacations to all,' Carnival President Christine Duffy said.

He has been 'an integral part of Carnival’s success and the growth and success of the global cruise industry for 40 years,' added Arnold Donald, president and CEO of Carnival Corp.

Adolfo Perez aboard Tropicale in 1984 and accepting his lifetime achievement award

Started at age 16

Perez was just 16 when he started at Carnival. He’s helped launch 34 Fun Ships and went on to reinvigorate Carnival’s relationship with the global travel advisor community by introducing memorable programs such as 'Travel Agents Rock,' a motto he believes in so fervently, he has a tattoo to prove it. He also instituted the Agentpalooza Bus Tour and a consumer-focused campaign to promote travel agents, Why Use a Travel Advisor.

He fostered the connection among Carnival, travel advisors and passengers through his popular Facebook page and his Live from Adolfo’s Desk webinars and media columns. Perez attributes his achievements to the travel advisor community, saying agents have been a critical component of Carnival’s success since its early days up until now.

Danny Genung, travel agency innovator

Danny Genung, MCC and president and CEO of Harr Travel in Redlands, California, joined the CLIA Hall of Fame as a travel industry innovator. He has taken more than 150 cruises. Through Harr Travel's YouTube channel and staff, the agency works to share the love of travel. This last year and a half Harr Travel has filmed more than 50 resorts and cruise ships, along with nearly 500 room and suite tours.

Christopher Grum, elite cruise counsellor

Christopher Grum, ECC, founded Premier Custom Travel outside Houston. Besides being a CLIA-certified elite cruise counsellor (ECC), he's also a CLIA luxury cruise specialist, a CLIA-certified travel agency executive and has earned the certified travel counselor designation from the Institute of Certified Travel Agents. He serves on CLIA’s Strategic Trade Advisory and Review Board. He co-authored 'The Travel Advisor's Handbook,' due out in spring 2023.

CLIA President and CEO Kelly Craighead called the inductees 'innovators, visionaries and champions of our industry,' adding 'CLIA is honored to recognize their hard work, commitment and dedication.'