WASHINGTON, DC — Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has named the 2015 Cruise Industry Hall of Fame Inductees.

The CLIA Hall of Fame recognizes individuals, past and present, whose efforts and accomplishments represent a significant contribution to the cruise industry. The 2015 inductees will be honoured at a gala dinner during the CLIA cruise3sixty conference in Fort Lauderdale on April 23 at the Broward County Convention Center.

“This year’s CLIA Hall of Fame inductees are truly a group of amazing and talented professionals who have demonstrated an ongoing dedication to advancing the cruise industry,” said Cindy D’Aoust, Executive Vice President, Membership and Operations, CLIA. “The selection process was extremely difficult due to the large number of high quality candidates nominated. The 2015 inductees represent the best of the cruise industry and we are proud to honour them with this recognition.”

Inductees are:

Mark and Mimi Comfort – Cruise Retailer Award: Mark and Mimi Comfort of Cruise Holidays of Kansas City. Cruise Holidays of Kansas City has been the number one U.S. store in the Cruise Holidays franchise system for 23 years.

Roderick K. McLeod – Cruise Line Executive Award: Rod McLeod’s launch into the cruise industry began at a Miami-based advertising agency, working on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Ltd. account. McLeod left the agency to join Royal Caribbean’s founding management team as the line’s first marketing director. He is widely credited with leading an innovative marketing and sales organization that enabled Royal Caribbean to emerge as one of the cruise industry’s most powerful and sustainable brands.

Wayne and Judy Heller – Cruise Sales Innovator Award:

In 1984, Wayne and his wife Judy pursued their entrepreneurial dream and opened Cruises Only Inc., a retail travel agency specializing in cruises. By 1997, Cruises Only was North America’s largest cruise agency. To further the company’s success, the Hellers, along with four other entities, co-founded Travel Services International (TSI). Together, Wayne and Judy were responsible for establishing procedures and policies enabling the TSI cruise division to maximize profits, reduce unit costs and expand markets. By 2000, the division had purchased more than 20 companies and generated sales of more than $500 million making TSI the largest seller of cruises in the world.

For a complete listing of past Cruise Industry Hall of Fame Inductees, please visit cruising.org.