AmaWaterways names Steve Spivak CCO

AmaWaterways has appointed Steve Spivak as chief commercial officer, effective Sept. 30, as the luxury river cruise line continues to expand its leadership team amid ongoing growth.

In the newly-created role, Spivak will oversee AmaWaterways’ sales, global service & reservations, and revenue management teams, bringing the departments together under a single commercial strategy.

His mandate will include supporting the river cruise company’s continued growth while strengthening relationships with travel advisors, strategic partners and guests.

“Steve brings an incredible depth of experience and a genuine passion for travel, people and the relationships that make this industry so special,” said Catherine Powell, CEO of AmaWaterways, in a statement.

“His extensive experience across the luxury travel and hospitality industries, combined with his deep understanding of the importance of exceptional service and strong partnerships, makes him an ideal addition to the AmaWaterways leadership team.”

Nearly three decades of experience

Spivak brings nearly three decades of travel and hospitality leadership experience to the position.

He joins AmaWaterways after 14 years with Tauck, where he most recently served as vice-president of global sales and customer experience.

During his time with Tauck, Spivak held responsibilities spanning sales, marketing, public relations, customer experience and strategic partnerships, while developing relationships with travel advisors and industry partners around the world.

Before Tauck, Spivak served as vice-president of global sales for Loews Hotels. Earlier in his career, he held senior sales and marketing leadership positions with Starwood Hotels & Resorts

Spivak began his career as an entrepreneur, creating and operating a portfolio of restaurant and hospitality concepts. He also served as an adjunct professor at New York University’s Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism.

“What stood out to me about AmaWaterways was its genuine commitment to people, partnerships and the guest experience,” said Spivak. “AmaWaterways has built an extraordinary reputation for delivering exceptional experiences and strong connections with its travel advisor partners, guests and industry partners.”

“I look forward to working closely with the team and our travel advisor community to build on that foundation and continue to grow the company.”

Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today!  Click here to follow PAX on Facebook.