Meetings at Sea Trailblazers Celebrate 35th Anniversary
May 18, 2017
Joyce Landry (left) and Jo Kling blow out the candles on their 35th Anniversary cake.
Celebrity Cruises hosted an anniversary luncheon for Joyce Landry and Josephine Kling aboard Celebrity Reflection at PortMiami. Guests included local cruise industry colleagues, vendors, long-time friends and supporters who gathered to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Landry & Kling Global Cruise Events — the leading producer of cruise events for the MICE market (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Events).
When the partners founded their business in 1982, it was a bold new concept to focus exclusively on meetings at sea. Early mentors told them there wasn’t enough cruise volume to warrant specialization but they persevered and with only $26,000 between them set out to conquer the world.
In a tribute to the founders, Richard Fain, chairman and CEO Royal Caribbean Cruises, and Vicki Freed, Royal Caribbean’s S.V.P. sales, wrote: “With vision and passion, you developed a business niche that has grown to be an integral part of every cruise line’s business portfolio today.”
Over the years, Landry & Kling introduced many Fortune 500 companies to cruising and established a reputation for groundbreaking ideas such as using cruise ships as dockside “floating hotels” to provide supplemental housing for citywide conventions (American Heart Association), government summits (Summit of the Americas), and international sporting events (Super Bowl and Rio Olympics).
“The entire cruise industry owes you a debt of gratitude”, commented Sean Mahoney, global V.P. corporate and incentive sales for 16 years at Silversea Cruises. “…In fact, your anniversary event felt somewhat like a coming-of-age celebration for all of us. I’m not entirely sure where we would be if not for your amazing stewardship and advocacy on our behalf.”
The cruise industry formally recognized Landry & Kling in 2009 when they were inducted into the CLIA Hall of Fame (Cruise Lines International Association) as “Visionaries who led the way in seagoing corporate meetings and incentive travel.”
In her introduction to Landry & Kling’s “Video Highlights of 35 Years,” Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Celebrity Cruises president and CEO, said, “There are not often times in our business where there are trailblazers who truly make a difference and contribute to the industry in a way that no one has before. Joyce and Jo are two of those women. …They have been the apostles…and they have taught many…who have come after them, but no one will ever be like the both of you.”
To see Landry & Kling’s “Video Highlights of 35 Years,” more cruise line comments and photos, visit 35th Anniversary Party.