2019 Speakers

Susan Lomax is the Associate Vice President of Corporate Communications at Royal Caribbean Group, leading the communications efforts in support of the organization’s mission to deliver the best vacations responsibly. Leveraging the Group’s three best-in-class brands – Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea – she shares the stories of the company’s relentless pursuit of the ultimate vacation experiences and the talented, passionate people behind the innovative work.

Susan has led corporate and brand communications for many of the most recognizable travel, hospitality and sports entities including Universal Orlando Resort, Paramount Parks, the Women’s Tennis Association, the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas, and the tourism boards for both Los Angeles and Orlando. She was named a 2022 Top Woman in PR by PR News, and, that same year, was awarded the Public Relations Society of America Silver Anvil, the PR industry’s highest honor, for the work behind leading the cruise industry back into service following the pandemic. Susan grew up in the Midwest, and, as a cancer, is happy to now call South Florida and the world’s oceans her home.

Lisa Lehr is an Entertainment Executive with with more than two decades of varied global entertainment experience working in New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Atlantic City, Miami and internationally. Lehr has been a performer, choreographer, producer and executive in the entertainment industry and has worked in numerous industries including cruise lines, theme parks, resort casinos, retail, international tours and corporate events.

As Vice President of Entertainment for Celebrity Cruises, Lehr oversees the strategy, development and execution of the line’s entire global entertainment program, including the theatre production shows, onboard activities, youth and teen programs, live music programs, headline entertainment, enrichment program, broadcast and more. She also leads a large, dynamic team of performers, entertainers and both onboard and shoreside personnel who help bring to life the award-winning entertainment that has achieved benchmark results from the brand’s history and delivered three new build ships within the past three years, each one outperforming the previous.

Throughout her career, she has worked with brands from American Ballet Theatre and Mattel to Sesame Street, Billboard, Rolling Stone and Guinness World Records. Most notably, she helped to secure the first-ever licensing deal for Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts with Holland America Line and produce an industry-first, award-winning chamber music program, Lincoln Center Stage. 

Additional highlights include working on Beyoncé’s show for the Premiere Weekend of the newest resort casino in Atlantic City, creating and producing a food and wine festival in partnership with Food and Wine magazine, featuring Iron Chefs, Marc Forgione and Jose Garces, hosted by Katie Lee, producing Karina Smirnoff’s burlesque performance debut and launching three nights of fireworks for Big Bang Weekend with world-famous Fireworks by Grucci. Earlier in her career, Lisa worked in Las Vegas where she oversaw entertainment and property development for one of the leading entertainment agencies, developing and managing integrated branded entertainment experiences, talent and 200+ employees for clients including Caesars Palace, Venetian, Palazzo, Planet Hollywood and Red Rock casinos, TAO and Lavo nightclubs and Fashion Show Mall. 

Lisa knows the business inside and out…having started as a performer in the production shows on Holland America Line, then as part of the creative and maintenance team as a show director and associate choreographer developing custom entertainment (where she was proud to have been part of the launch team for the Oosterdam) and leveraging that creativity and collaboration for all the positions she has filled over the years.

She proudly holds an honors degree from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.  

Matt is the SVP of Data Analytics & AI at Royal Caribbean Group in Miami, FL. He oversees the development and deployment of data-driven and AI-based capabilities across the company. He currently serves on several Advisory Boards, including those for the University of Miami Institute for Data Science & Computing and the Northwestern University MBAi program. He previously was Chief Data Science Officer, and a founder, of Noodle.ai, which provides AI-as-a-Service to enterprises and industrial firms. Prior to that, he was the Chief Data Science Officer and General Manager of the Data Science of Excellence at General Electric. He also led Smarter Planet Modelling & Analytics at IBM Research, and was a Partner in IBM’s Venture Capital Group. Matt has published widely in academic journals, and holds 25 patents. He has B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. Degrees from MIT and the University of Arizona.

Paul is the Senior Director of Culinary and Operation Excellence at Royal Caribbean in Miami, FL. He oversees the develop of all fleetwide recipes and culinary execution which includes the menu designs and print. 

Paul manages teams that oversees the forecasting of food, chinaware, and equipment for existing and new ships. Paul developed the current waste system used at Royal and leads the team that’s now optimizing the current software into a more custom robust predictive Food Production Management System which will improve quality of our execution, reduce complexity and waste. 

Paul has previously partnered with large equipment manufactures where he assisted in the develop of commercial kitchen equipment and other food production systems used by large-scale restaurants. Prior to his time with Royal Caribbean, he worked for Darden Restaurants as an operator where he led teams to open more than 50 restaurants.

Korina Stark is a seasoned leader with over 25 years of experience in product innovation and strategy across diverse industries, ranging from startups to enterprises. She is also the co-founder of Circular Spring, a pioneering initiative that propels companies towards sustainable products and services, fostering ecosystems that support them. At Circular Spring, Korina collaborates with a collective of designers, technical and domain experts, and visionaries to shape a future where successful businesses thrive within a circular economy, harmonizing with natural ecosystems and communities.

Korina’s expertise stems from her foundation in industrial and product design, complemented by studies in Behavioral Economics at Harvard and Sustainable Infrastructure Systems at MIT. She navigates the complex interplay between human behavior, culture, technology, and ecological systems, championing positive impacts through courage, collaboration, and robust design methodologies. Her work exemplifies a commitment to driving meaningful business, environmental, and social change.

Kim Bjørge Hofslundsengen is the VP of Hotel Operations in Hurtigruten. He joined the company in 2016.

Hurtigruten has achieved notable success through a series of refurbishments over the years. The most recent project, focusing on MS Trollfjord, garnered acclaim, winning the prestigious Best Fine Dining (small ship) award from CSI. Additionally, MS Trollfjord received a commendation in the Condé Nast Travellers Gold List as one of ‘The Best Cruise Ships in the World.

Kim Bjørge Hofslundsengen served as the project manager for the operational aspects of the MS Trollfjord refurbishment. With a keen focus on efficiency and excellence, Kim ensured the operational success of the entire undertaking. “The most rewarding aspect of my role is witnessing guests genuinely adore the product, understanding the significant effort invested by the design team, suppliers, and the operational staff. I am passionate about working in this industry, driven by the opportunity to craft unforgettable memories.

Giacomo Villa was born in Milan and holds a Master Of Science degree in Economics and Strategic Development of Small and Medium-sized enterprises. Giacomo gained experience on Development economics and Sustainability after spending 3 years researching and working on education, business development and access to microcredit of low-income entrepreneurs in the west suburbs of São Paulo, Brazil.

Since 2017 he joined Manifattura Testori SpA as 5th generation of the Company and Head of Sales to develop Aviation and Marine businesses promoting the transition toward Sustainability of the products range and the organization. Giacomo is also member of the Board of Directors since 2018.

After many years delivering fast paced fashion retail projects globally for brands such as Arcadia, Kurt Geiger, and Harrods. Christina joined Carnival UK as part of the P&O Iona hotel design team in 2017. She is currently working on Cunard’s fourth ship.

Christina also spent a short stint of her career designing luxury care homes and retirement communities.

Christina is a passionate designer and proud to be part of the Carnival brand.

Luke  is speaking at Cruise Ship Interiors Americas, their full bio will be available shortly.

Cristina Stefani is a Marketing & Communication Strategist at Aquafil, where she leads the company’s marketing initiatives for circular economy projects across various industries, including aviation, hospitality, contract, and marine. Her work centers on promoting sustainable practices and driving innovation within these sectors, aligning Aquafil’s vision of a circular economy with market trends, user demand, and customer needs.

Cristina is particularly focused on the “R2R” (Regenerated to be Regenerable) project, which highlights Aquafil’s commitment to circularity. Through “R2R,” the company aims to foster a more sustainable and circular future by building a network of adopters dedicated to reducing environmental impact through eco-design practices.

With a background in economics and over 20 years of experience, Cristina brings a unique perspective to her role, blending sustainable solutions with business growth strategies. Her expertise includes crafting impactful campaigns, nurturing strong relationships with stakeholders, and identifying opportunities for sustainable development.

Louis is the Principal and Chief Creative Officer of Raven Sun Creative, an award-winning experiential entertainment consulting and design firm working globally since 2012. Louis has guided a diverse range of clients in the creation of world-class destinations, including Evergrande Group, Hersheypark, Carnival Cruises, Hengdian World Studios, and Dalian Wanda Group. In his role as a brand strategy and IP development consultant, he has represented clients including Ubisoft, Lamborghini, and LvGem in their entrance into experiential entertainment. He is also the designer and patent-holder of several turn-key experiential attraction solutions, including the Ultra Tower immersive media drop tower.

Louis has over 30 years of experience in guiding, designing, and building entertainment destinations, immersive media-based attractions, retail locations, cultural sites, digital, and experiential events. Prior to founding Raven Sun Creative, he served as Creative Director for Universal Creative on projects such as Transformers: The Ride-3D, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, Land of Oz, and Hollywood Dream – The Ride. Experienced in assembling and leading teams of professionals from diverse backgrounds to achieve innovative results, Louis has been responsible for the creative and owner representation aspects of projects up to $27 billion in magnitude.

Scott Butler, AIA is one of the founding partners of Boston-based Wilson Butler Architects, a nationally renowned studio dedicated to architecture for the arts and entertainment. Scott brings innovative design and a deeply committed responsiveness to the unique challenges of each project, whether it is a performing arts center, arts educational facility, historic theatre, cruise ship, or state-of-the art entertainment venue.

The firm’s success is the result of the collaborative approach and unique tools, that he and the team at WBA have developed over the years. Scott believes that the best design comes from a team commitment to transparently explore each individual project’s physical context, programming aspirations, and patron experience, prior to considering design solutions.  This has led to his designs being celebrated for their operational success, patron joy, timeless beauty. He has worked internationally on more than 100 performance, arts education, and entertainment projects.

Scott was the master planner and chief architect for Icon of the Seas and has been working for Royal Caribbean Group and its brands for almost 30 years.

Linh Nguyen is an accomplished interior designer in the Marine Industry. With over 11 years of experience as a Senior Design Manager at Holland America Line, her expertise spans from cruise ship design to managing multi-million-dollar projects on prominent cruise brands such as ultra-luxury Seabourn and Premium Holland America Line. After receiving her BA in Communications from the University of Washington, she diversified her skills and pursued a degree in Interior Design at Bellevue College.

Linh started her career at Holland America, quickly moving into the role of interior designing and managing ships. Now, going on 12 years with the company her leadership role focuses on design and strategy. She is passionate about creating beautiful things that invoke inspiration in other people whether it’s spaces, events, or planning her 3 year old daughter’s birthdays!  Sustainable design is in the forefront of every project decision that comes her way.

As an architect, researcher, and project manager at OSK Design Emilie is intent on creating captivating, functional and enduring spaces for both passengers and crew. Being a curious listener and a creative practitioner, she believes that open transparent dialogue, innovative solutions, and generous collaborations is at the heart of good conscientious design. 

Over the past three years, Emilie and her team have intensified their work towards more sustainable designs for passenger vessels. Therefore, she will argue relentlessly that finding transparent, data-driven, and sustainable paths forward goes beyond trends and is the only way to secure the future of the cruise industry. 

When Emilie is not dreaming and drawing up new interiors, investigating trends or engaging with clients, suppliers, passengers, and crew, you can find her cruising on a 24-foot sailing boat in and around Copenhagen.

Philipp Mirow has spent the last 12+ years bringing brands to life. Starting his career at a boutique luxury advertising agency, he transitioned into brand strategy and innovation consulting, collaborating with blue-chip companies like PepsiCo, Hilton, and Marriott. 

Most recently, he developed the Spark by Hilton and LivSmart Studios brands. Today, as Brand Leader for Radisson and Radisson Blu at Choice Hotels.

Alix Loiseau is an experienced professional in the construction industry with a passion for implementing transformative technology. As the Director of Virtual Design and Construction at Royal Caribbean, he has successfully introduced Virtual Design & Construction technologies that promote transparency, improve design and coordination, and reduce risk and cost. With over 20 years of experience, Alix has worked on various projects in South Florida, including airports, courthouses, ports, and government facilities. He is also recognized for authoring BIM implementation standards for different owners.

Alix specializes in a range of technologies, such as Virtual Reality, Reality Capture, Laser Scanning, Building Information Modeling, and Virtual Facilities Management. His expertise in these areas has positioned him as a thought leader on AI integration. Notably, his latest achievement in digital twinning with the Icon of the Seas project showcases his ability to leverage technology to drive innovation and improve project outcomes.

Jay Schneider, Chief Product Innovation Officer, leads the bold, imaginative and purposeful thinking behind the unparalleled experiences at the heart of Royal Caribbean International. He oversees the product development teams, which focus on creating new concepts, venues and experiences in partnership with in-house experts across architecture, naval and industrial engineering, attractions, food and beverage, entertainment and more. They push the boundaries of what’s possible on Royal Caribbean’s game-changing ships and in the design and construction of its private destinations, including the top-rated Perfect Day at CocoCay.

It’s the cruise line’s commitment to delivering memorable vacations that drives Schneider and his teams’ work, and at the center of it all is the Royal Caribbean guest – new or returning and of all ages. The teams tap into decades of experience and the latest research that highlights travel trends and what the travellers of today and tomorrow are looking for in a vacation. From concept to reality, each idea is thoughtfully tested, enhanced and scaled to raise the bar from one innovation to the next.

Recent accomplishments for Schneider and his teams include the highly anticipated introduction of the first-of-its-kind vacation, Icon of the Seas – Royal Caribbean’s best-selling ship to date – and the expansion of Perfect Day at CocoCay with Hideaway Beach, the island’s first adults-only retreat. They continue to push the envelope as Royal Caribbean develops new experiences, destinations and ships years into the future, including the upcoming Utopia of the Seas and the next in the revolutionary Icon Class, Star of the Seas.

In his previous role as senior vice president of digital, Schneider also led the digital transformation of Royal Caribbean Group’s family of cruise brands. His goal was to remove the friction that comes with things like paper forms and lines so that guests can enjoy more of their time off. The design of the brands’ latest mobile apps and new features have created a more seamless vacation experience. That includes the early 2020 introduction of Muster 2.0 – the innovation that reinvented the cruise industry’s decades-old mandatory safety briefing. Years in the making, the company’s patented technology revolutionized a process that was designed for large crowds of guests into an easier, more personal experience for small groups.

Spearheading innovation through digital strategy, application development, e-commerce and user experience design throughout his entire career, Schneider has more than 20 years of experience to date. Before Royal Caribbean, he was vice president of Digital Guest Experience at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, where he successfully implemented the strategy, development and introduction of digital products for guests around the world.

Today, Schneider is also an active member on the boards of Teach for America Miami-Dade and the Memorial Hermann Health System.

James S. Mitchell is the Newbuild Innovation Officer for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH), focused on developing innovation, the creation of new guest experiences, emerging technologies, and the strategic planning new vessel assets.

James joined Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. in 2015 after the merger with Oceania and Regent Seven Seas Cruises where he started in 2012. He has held numerous roles within the organization most recently as the Senior Vice President of New Build Strategy and Development and Vice President of Marine HSEM (Health, Safety, Environment & Medical Operations). Before joining NCLH, James began his career as an environmental officer at Celebrity Cruise Lines, sailing onboard the Millennium and Solstice Class vessels from 2007 to 2012.

Originally from Framingham, Massachusetts, James received his Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Safety and Environmental Protection from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy with a concentration in Emergency Management. He continued his studies in Environmental Management & Sustainability at the Harvard Extension School, before moving to Miami in 2012. Additionally, he is a graduate of The Wharton School’s General Management Program and completed his MBA at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.

Ben Wilson joined the New Building department of MSC Cruises in 2021 after a decade working in the design sector of the cruise industry.  Following the delivery of World Europa, Seascape and Euribia, as Head of Architecture his role is to develop and deliver exciting new cabins, suites, and public areas in the continuous evolution of the MSC Cruises contemporary brand.

As vice president of newbuilding and refurbishment, Trevor Young is currently coordinating the 13 new building projects that are currently part of MSC Cruises’ fleet expansion plan. He also coordinates all refurbishment projects in the Company’s existing fleet. Trevor’s career started with him earning a diploma of business and hospitality management, along with a certificate in hotel and catering Management which lead him to the cruise industry in 1996.

My is the Director of Interior Design for HA Group and leads the design department overseeing three prominent cruise brands: Holland America Line, Princess Cruise Line and Seabourn. My’s design experience is diversified across Refurbishment and Newbuild.

As a globally recognized thought leader, My’s repertoire of achievements span both land and sea. She is known for her internationally acclaimed award-winning designs as well as being a public speaker on topics close to her heart such as Sustainability and Leadership.

On the topic of inspiration, My says, “inspiration to me is not a noun. It’s more of a mindset. I’m as inspired seeing the colors of leaves while walking in my neighborhood as I am looking at fashion in different cities that I visit around the world. The key is to always keep your eyes open and not have tunnel vision. That mindset assures you will always feel inspired”.

Greg Walton, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP is founding partner of Studio DADO, a Miami-based design studio specializing in cruise ship and hospitality interiors, which has established itself as an integral part of the cruise design industry. Greg has designed projects such as Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis class ships and the “Seven Seas Explorer” for Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

With a Masters in Architecture from Georgia Tech, and an MS in International Business from Johns Hopkins, Greg has mentored cruise ship design students at Florida International University since 2007 and sits on the 2019 Cruise Ship Interiors Expo advisory board. Greg watches trends: he sees technology as a key driver of industry change and reminds emerging designers to consider the continual advancements in how we interface with and control our built environment. In his free time, Greg is a tireless world traveler who is rarely seen without his Italian greyhound, Enzo.