With 60 years of expertise in the traveling industry, Rosario Mariani decided to put his retirement plans on hold to return to the office as chairman and head of CTI USA, the U.S. branch of the leading Italian travel management company for business travel Cisalpina Tours International under the Mediterranean Shipping Company umbrella. Born in Abruzzo, his family moved to South Africa when he was 7 and then to New York when he was 14 due to his father’s work as a chef for a famous French restaurant. Once stateside, he never left and built his esteemed career in the global travel industry.
Mr. Mariani, can you briefly introduce the history of the MSC company?
“From humble beginnings in the 1970s, Captain Gianluigi Aponte founded MSC with a single cargo vessel and entered the U.S. market in the 1980s thanks to the strategic collaboration with Captain Nicola Arena, a distinguished leader in maritime operations. This partnership laid the foundation for MSC’s North American expansion, now thriving under the leadership of Fabio Santucci, President and CEO of MSC – USA.”
Where does MSC stand today?
“The Aponte family’s visionary leadership, specifically, Group President Diego Aponte and Executive Chairman Gianluigi Aponte himself, has shaped the company into the world’s largest container company, counting almost 900 container ships aiming to surpass 1,000 vessels in the near future. During COVID, MSC experienced unprecedented growth, expanding its services and integrating affiliates such as Medlog, the company’s dedicated inland transport and logistics division.”
When did you come into the picture?
“My association with Captain Arena dates back to the 1960s, sharing the same commitment to Italian excellence in transportation and travel by working for Italian Steamship Line. Throughout the years, whenever travel support was needed, he would reach out to me during my tenure at Air France, Alitalia, and Eurofly. About 15 years ago, Flag Travel began handling corporate travel for MSC, and I was consulted to modernize operations. We introduced a new system, Concur, that allows the company to get all the information that they need about the profile of the passenger, nationally, as well as internationally. We merged BluVacanze, based in Milan, and Cisalpina, based in Turin, to cover corporate travel services. About 7-8 years ago, we decided to expand from Europe to the United States. Officially CTI – USA was founded in January 2023 to enhance corporate travel in North America, while also serving the broader corporate market with high-end, personalized travel management services. Our HQ are now proudly located at MSC’s North American offices at 420 Fifth Avenue.”
What are CTI – USA’s goals?
“Our mission is to become a cornerstone of MSC Groups global travel ecosystem, building on a legacy of trust, ambition, and innovation. Our primary focus is to support MSC’s divisions—MSC Cargo, MSC Cruises, and the new luxury cruise brand, Explora Journeys—by providing seamless corporate travel solutions. We specialize in incentives, meetings, custom-designed experiences through our destination management company, Going2Italy. Looking ahead, within the next 12 to 18 months, we intend to expand our services directly to discerning consumers.”
Can you explain the concept of Explora Journeys’s “luxury cruises?”
“Explora Journeys offers a true luxury experience at sea. Each ship accomodate fewer than 1,000 guests, with only about 450 spacious suites onboard—as opposed to 2,000, like you see on some lines. This ensures an intimate and highly personalized experience, five stars guaranteed. Also, each year we introduce new itineraries, allowing guests to discover different regions of the world. Currently, two ships are operational, with a third launching next year.”
How do you address the challenges related to travel infrastructure and overtourism?
“We work closely with our big organization in Italy to develop innovative travel system. My focus is to find hidden gems spots—Southern Italy has so many jewels—and curating exclusive experiences for our clients. At the same time, we promote sustainable tourism, alleviating pressure on over-visited destinations.”
Do you think being from a different cultural background helped you in your career?
“Yes. My experiences across three continents instilled in me a profound understanding of cultural diversity and hospitality. Throughout my career, the concept of treating clients like family has been central. My early fascination with aviation—sparked in 1956 1960 during a school visit to an airport in Durban Johannesburg—set me on my lifelong path. I later worked for Club ABC, a private travel club, and held leadership roles at Air France, Alitalia, and Eurofly. And even though I left Italy at 7, Italy never left me. I am very proud of my heritage. Today, through CTI-USA and our partners, I aim to give back to my roots by promoting the best of Italian culture and hospitality.”
During the pandemic, MSC saw an exponential growth despite the difficult time. Now that tariffs are on, do you think that it can happen again?
“History never repeats itself. It often rhymes. Economic conditions fluctuate, but long-term vision is what truly matters. Travel remains an enduring human aspiration, and CTI-USA is committed to adapting to changing times and continuing to serve our clients with excellence.”
