Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard D. Fain has been inducted into the prestigious British Travel and Hospitality Industry Hall of Fame.

The annual awards ceremony – which took place at London’s Savoy Hotel on April 17 – was created in 1994 to recognise individuals who have made an ‘outstanding contribution’ to the travel and hospitality industries. Fain joins an exclusive list of past recipients, including low-cost airline pioneer Sir Freddie Laker, Sandals founder Butch Stewart, Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson and Carlson chairwoman Marilyn Carlson Nelson.

Fain joined Royal Caribbean in 1979 as an outside director on the Board of Directors. He became the global cruise vacation company’s chairman and CEO in 1988.  Under Fain’s leadership, the business has grown to become the world’s second largest cruise line operator, introducing the most innovative ships to the global leisure market. The Miami-based corporation is renowned for its pioneering approach to ship design and development, expansion into Asia and continued investment in onboard guest facilities and experiences.

Prior to joining Royal Caribbean, Fain spent 13 years as treasurer, chief financial officer and joint managing director of Gotaas-Larsen Shipping Corp., a London-based owner and operator of cargo ships.

Hall of Fame inductees are nominated by a committee of senior UK travel industry leaders and trade associations.

Fain was welcomed in the 2012 Hall of Fame alongside Abercrombie & Kent founder and executive chairman Geoffrey Kent; International Airlines Group chief executive Willie Walsh; Rezidor Hotel Group president and chief executive Kurt Ritter; and Stagecoach Group chief executive and co-founder Brian Souter.