Marc Kazlauskas spent the last decade at the helm of travel agencies. Norwegian Cruise Line's move to bring him aboard as president indicates a reshaping of strategy that centers the agency perspective, according to observers who know Kazlauskas well.
Marc Kazlauskas
Before his short stint as Avoya Travel CEO this year, Kazlauskas spent 11 years at Frosch, joining as president of leisure travel and departing as president of the entire agency. Before joining Frosch, Kazlauskas was the president of tour operator Insight Vacations' U.S. division for 12 years.
Kazlauskas is approachable and energetic, agency executives said. He understands what agencies need and look for from cruise lines, they added, while also knowing supplier operations, marketing and revenue management from his time at Insight, Tauck, Trafalgar and Orient Lines.
"I honestly think he's the right man for the job," said Phil Cappelli, Avoya's chief sales officer who was promoted to CEO with Kazlauskas' departure. "While it's bittersweet for me as his friend for over 30 years and to lose him at Avoya because we were doing this together, I feel strongly he will do great things for Norwegian."
NCL is in the midst of significant growth. It is adding a pier and developing a waterpark on its private Bahamian island, Great Stirrup Cay, and preparing its next class of ships, which will be the largest in NCL history.
Right now, however, NCL is a smaller brand to Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line. That presents an opportunity to progress and increase competitiveness, but doing so will require creativity, said Signature Travel Network CEO Alex Sharpe.
"It's probably not going to be a plan that just simply mimics their competitors," Sharpe said. "They're going to have to think differently. I think having someone from the outside will help him ask the right questions."
Cruise companies often tap leaders with financial backgrounds, said Cruise Planners CEO Michelle Fee, but in Kazlauskas NCL hired someone with a deep understanding of the travel industry.
"Not many presidents have ever come from the advisor, agency side," she said. "I love the fact that he is going to have an agent's perspective on how things work. He can lean into his own community, in a sense, in helping him grow the Norwegian brand."
At the same time, Kazlauskas' prior experience working for suppliers is valuable as he takes on a role at such a large cruise line, Cappelli said. "There's more of an understanding of operations and revenue management that maybe someone who was just in the agency business wouldn't have."
Kazlauskas is someone who strikes the balance of offering a fresh perspective and a knowledge of cruising, Sharpe said. He's also a high-energy individual like his new boss, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO Harry Sommer, added Sharpe.
He's authentic and friendly, as well, Fee said.
When Kazlauskas served on Signature's board, Sharpe said he "always asked great questions, had good feedback and listened. I think all of those things are going to come together to make him successful there."
Jamie Biesiada contributed to this report.