Calabasas, Ca - (Nov. 2, 2018) -
(Photo left - from l-r): Scott Campbell, manager cruise relations, AAA National; Bryan Shilling, managing director travel products and services, AAA National; Gary Murphy, vice president of sales and co-owner, AmaWaterways; Stacey Barber, managing director travel technology & data management, AAA National; Rudi Schreiner, president and co-owner, AmaWaterways; Donna Cook, director national accounts, AmaWaterways; Bill Sutherland, vice president travel services, AAA National
(Photo right - from l-r): Jane Supino, project assistant, CAA National; Jamie Patterson, managing director partnership programs and strategies, CAA National; Sandra Gardiner, director national accounts, AmaWaterways; Khanh Santos, vice president marketing, AmaWaterways; Cathy McManaman, director travel services, CAA National; Patricia Marques, manager travel services, CAA National.
AmaWaterways today announced it was named 2018 River Cruise Company of the Year by the American Automobile Association (AAA) during the annual AAA Travel Conference held October 21-23, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. In addition, AmaWaterways earned AAA’s Best Marketing Award in the overall cruise category. In a separate event held earlier in October in Winnipeg, Manitoba the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) also awarded the leader in river cruising innovation its 2018 Cruise Partner of the Year.
“AmaWaterways has worked very closely with all AAA and CAA Clubs in the US and Canada and it means so much to our sales, marketing and operations teams to be recognize by both these prestigious organizations,” said Gary Murphy, AmaWaterways’ vice president of sales and co-owner. “We look forward to building on the foundation of our superb relationship to bring the best value river cruise vacation to AAA and CAA members.”
Each year, AAA and CAA Travel asks stakeholders from across the U.S. and Canada to rank preferred travel partners on multiple criteria. These awards honor the best companies in the travel industry and their commitment to providing AAA and CAA travel agents and members with exceptional travel products and services.
In addition to accepting the AAA awards, Rudi Schreiner, AmaWaterways’ president and co-owner, shared news about a jointly sponsored project to welcome 60 eighth-grade students and their chaperones from AAA’s – The Auto Club Group (ACG) territory – on a customized seven-night “Discovery Crew” river cruise through the Netherlands and Belgium departing March 28, 2019. The “Discovery Crew” essay contest closed September 21, 2018 and the winners are currently being notified.
“AmaWaterways is a family-owned company committed to creating unforgettable vacation experiences for all our guests, including families, on board our ships,” said Schreiner. “We believe travel is so important in shaping young people today and we are honored to join with ACG to play an active role in providing this travel opportunity that rewards and further encourages openness and understanding of diverse cultures.”
For more information or to book an AmaWaterways river cruise, contact your travel advisor, visit AmaWaterways.com or call (800) 626-0126. Follow AmaWaterways on Facebook at facebook.com/AmaWaterways and Twitter @AmaWaterways.