The proposed merger between the Marine Hotel Association (MHA) and the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) will help support the lobbying efforts of CLIA, according to MHA President John Peijs, who is also director of hotel services at Holland America Line.

On the topic of the merger, Peijs said, addressing MHA membership on Monday, April 3: “This will further their intention to have one unified voice for the cruise industry. At this point the MHA board has agreed to explore a potential merger situation.”

Peijs said there were passionate discussions going on among the board of directors while speaking at a breakfast event in Naples. “We are very cautious in moving this process along,” Peijs noted.

“This is something that started a couple of years ago when the executive leadership of the cruise industry, as part of the CLIA involvement, decided there should be one voice that represents the cruise industry, especially the lobbying efforts, where we try to make the rules and regulations fit our needs,” he said.

While Peijs assured the audience that the MHA board would decide in the best interest of the MHA, he was unable to touch on a single specific, or reveal any of CLIA’s intentions regarding the future of the MHA, its annual convention and trade show, scholarship and educational programs, or membership costs.

The MHA is a group of hotel and food and beverage suppliers. The association itself is a non-profit with no lobbying efforts.

The MHA is set to hold a conference at sea later this year and the 33rd annual trade show is scheduled for Orlando in 2018.