Cruise Buzz

Congratulations to Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago who received a prestigious award from the President of Malta.

MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman, Pierfrancesco Vago, was presented with Malta’s highest honor, the Order of Merit, from Maltese President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca during during the annual Republic Day Honours List ceremony.

In a press release issued by MSC Cruises, on December 14, 2015 it was announced that – MSC Cruises Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago received Malta’s Order of Merit, a rare honor reserved only for those who have demonstrated exceptional merit in the service of Malta. Having been to the archipelago in the central Mediterranean between Sicily and the North African coast, I can say that I am proud that Mr. Vago and MSC Cruises’ exceptional contribution to the island’s cruise industry has helped him get this much deserved recognition.

Cruise visitors who have a chance to explore Malta will no doubt enjoy numerous sites of historic and cultural significance as well as an island-vibe that lives up to the hype.

If you want to learn more about the award and its significance, click here.

Yesterday evening at the Grand Master’s Palace during the annual Republic Day Honors List ceremony, Mr. Vago received the decoration in Valletta, Malta’s capital as a guest of Maltese President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca.

Non-Maltese citizens are seldom selected for the award, however the Government of Malta chose Mr. Vago, an Italian who has lived in Switzerland since 2001 because of his and MSC Cruises’ substantial and continuing contribution to the Maltese cruise industry and its economy.

MSC Cruises has established a solid, longstanding relationship with the island of Malta, where its ships have been calling since 2003. As the first CEO of Geneva-based MSC Cruises and its Executive Chairman since 2013, Mr. Vago’s played a significant role in the construction of this relationship, which continues to strengthen over time. In 2015, MSC Cruises brought more than 230,000 visitors to the island, with an additional 330,000 guests scheduled to visit in 2016.

Mr Vago said: “I’m deeply honored and humbled to receive such merit and recognition from the Maltese Government. Malta is a beautiful and vibrant place to visit, with three UNESCO World Heritage Sites and an extremely rich history and culture. And on top of that, it has a top-drawer tourism industry, which is why our guests consistently rate Malta among their favorite Mediterranean destinations.”

Get to know Pierfrancesco Vago

Mr. Vago serves as Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises leading the company’s growth from its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Additionally, he oversees all MSC Group subsidiaries with strategic relevance to the tourism sector.

From 2004 to 2013, he served as the company’s Chief Executive Officer, driving 800% growth from a single ship to become the world’s fourth largest cruise company and number one in Europe. Since January 1, 2014, Mr. Vago has also held the chairmanship of CLIA Europe, the leading industry association in Europe.  This year, he was re-elected for a second term on December 9^th