Global business powerhouse and South Florida Business Journal and Forbes Travel Guide Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo is President & CEO of FIFA World Cup 2026TM Miami Host Committee. As President and CEO of the Miami host Committee, Lisa is responsible for leading the strategy, fundraising, fan activations, and operations for the seven 2026 Men’s FIFA World Cup matches. Lisa’s tested commitment to excellence, innovation, hospitality and outstanding results will drive the Miami Host Committee’s success as The 2026 FIFA World CupTM is anticipated to be one of the most significant global sporting events. Miami, one of the world’s leading sports and entertainment destinations, joins 16 host cities in North America to showcase the world’s most popular sports tournament with more than 3.5 billion fans worldwide.
Previously she served as Vice Chairman, External Affairs for the Royal Caribbean Group, one of the leading cruise companies in the world with a global fleet of 64 ships sailing for three award-winning cruise brands, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises. In this role, she worked to drive the company strategy forward working closely with both industry organizations and key external stakeholders. Prior to this role, she served as President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises from 2014 to 2023, the first woman to take the helm of a Royal Caribbean Group brand and one of the few women in the world at the time leading a multibillion-dollar brand.
Lutoff-Perlo is a recognized trailblazer in the global hospitality industry. She was the driving force behind transforming and re-defining today’s relaxed luxury cruise experience with a bold, innovative approach to ship design and service for both the industry and the Celebrity Cruises brand. Launching Celebrity’s Edge Series in 2018, the ships were immediately hailed as game-changing for the industry and recognized on TIME Magazine’s annual “World’s Greatest Places” list. She also led the Celebrity brand through a digital transformation, tapping into new market opportunities, customer trends, a robust digital marketing focus and increasing guest loyalty.
In the years leading up to the global pandemic, Lutoff-Perlo led Celebrity Cruises to historic financial performance. She then led the industry back into service on June 26, 2021, when Celebrity Edge was the first ship to sail from a U.S. port and she went on to return the brand’s business performance to within historical ranges in the first full year of post-pandemic operation. In 2023, Celebrity Cruises’ ships were the first in the world to earn the coveted star rating from Forbes Travel Guide, further solidifying the brand’s relaxed luxury resorts at sea brand positioning.
Throughout her tenure as CEO, she has demonstrated exceptional vision, strategic acumen, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Her leadership not only propelled her organization to new heights but also served as a shining example for professionals across industries.
A purpose-driven leader, Lutoff-Perlo also catalyzed cultural progress in the 200-year-old cruise industry by appointing the first American female Captain and the first West-African woman to work on the bridge of a cruise ship; making history with the first all-female bridge and leadership sailing in 2020; and, ultimately, increasing Celebrity’s percentage of women on the bridge to 32%, far exceeding the maritime industry average of 2%.
She has been recognized with numerous awards for business transformation, outstanding leadership, diversity and inclusion, and her numerous philanthropic efforts.
She is a member of the Board of Directors of Fortune 500 company AutoNation (NYSE: AN), Chairwoman of the board of the Hornblower Group, and other various organizations.
Lutoff-Perlo shares her powerful career stories and lessons learned in her Best Selling leadership book, “Making Waves: A Woman’s Rise to the Top Using Smarts, Heart and Courage,”
Lisa Lutoff-Perlo Bio_Extended (pdf)
DownloadMaking Waves follows the incredible career journey of Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, from her stories of an ambitious young woman to trailblazing president and CEO to Vice Chairman. Lutoff-Perlo’s story will inspire women to be courageous while using their smarts and heart to rise to the top.
In Making Waves Lutoff-Perlo will walk us through her triumphs, hardships, and teaching moments. She breaks down her unique leadership style that catapulted her brand to new heights and historic performance. Readers will learn as she shares her most valuable lessons and how she uses her superpower to set herself apart from other leaders. The reader will learn why guests, employees, and a wide community of so many others are in awe of her ability to inspire, authenticity and kindness. She has soared to great heights and accomplished great success while caring deeply for others and putting people first.
“When you think about navigating success you go to the master of the industry and there is no one quite like Lisa Lutoff-Perlo. Her strength is taking leadership well beyond the norm with a unique combination of wit, vulnerability and compassion. She set a course for success from the moment she took command and continues to make waves by
“When you think about navigating success you go to the master of the industry and there is no one quite like Lisa Lutoff-Perlo. Her strength is taking leadership well beyond the norm with a unique combination of wit, vulnerability and compassion. She set a course for success from the moment she took command and continues to make waves by paying it forward with grace, empathy, determination and a passion for people.”
Captain Kate McCue, Celebrity Cruises
"When I first met Lisa, I remember walking away feeling energized and excited. But, it wasn’t just the design and the challenge, it was having a feeling in my stomach that this was a woman who would take risks, break the mold and transform an industry. Lisa has the ability to allow you to use your creativity without boundaries and take r
"When I first met Lisa, I remember walking away feeling energized and excited. But, it wasn’t just the design and the challenge, it was having a feeling in my stomach that this was a woman who would take risks, break the mold and transform an industry. Lisa has the ability to allow you to use your creativity without boundaries and take risks and that is rare today.”
Kelly Hoppen, CBE, award-winning international designer
“Lisa Lutoff-Perlo is not only inspirational but aspirational both as a person and a leader. From her humble beginnings growing up playing in the seas of Boston to navigating previously uncharted waters in so many ways, Lisa is the example of hard work, determination, family-first mentality, and vision coming to fruition. CEO's change t
“Lisa Lutoff-Perlo is not only inspirational but aspirational both as a person and a leader. From her humble beginnings growing up playing in the seas of Boston to navigating previously uncharted waters in so many ways, Lisa is the example of hard work, determination, family-first mentality, and vision coming to fruition. CEO's change their organizations, often in reaction to daily events. As CEO of Celebrity, Lisa not only changed today, but tomorrow, and beyond.”
Dr. Jacqueline A. Travisano, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Wake Forest University
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