As newly appointed Chief Brand Ambassador, I'm thrilled to share what’s in store as I embark on this new chapter of my AmaWaterways story. Before addressing the exciting opportunities I see ahead, I want to reflect back on 2002, when Rudi Schreiner, Jimmy Murphy and I co-founded AmaWaterways. Our vision was to create a river cruise experience that we ourselves would love. That involved comfortable, spacious ships, a choice of different immersive excursions each day, wonderful food and wine and a crew that would treat everyone like family. During those startup years, Rudi was focused on designing itineraries and operating the ships while my primary responsibility was to find guests to fill them! I did that by personally engaging with travel advisors in the US and Canada; explaining who we were and how our European heritage helped us to create a river cruise experience like no other – one that was more personal, more authentic and more immersive than anything offered before. We put our hearts and souls into the business and proudly watched it grow.
Here we are almost 23 years later and we have designed and built 31 new ships to discover new rivers around the world. We have hired a remarkable group of 450 talented people with extensive river cruising knowledge and experience, built strong relationships with travel advisors and empowered our 100 Cruise Managers and dedicated crew to deliver heartfelt customer service that creates lifelong memories for over 100,000 guests each year.
My new role as Chief Brand Ambassador allows me more time to nurture and grow those incredibly important relationships with travel advisors, guests and employees around the world. I am also able to expand the company’s outreach to the communities and business that welcome our guests and the places where we build ships and source our products, providing life-changing employment.
I just completed my first mission as Chief Brand Ambassador having recently returned from Colombia where AmaWaterways will launch two ships on the Magdalena River this year. Our presence in that country has been truly transformative. I had meetings with so many incredible individuals who have contributed to this pioneering project - from the shipyard workers to government officials, from produce suppliers to talented local artists, from knowledgeable guides to passionate musicians and traditional dancers - the impact of AmaWaterways in Colombia is resonating throughout the region.
We're not just building ships; we're building relationships, contributing significantly to local economies and helping the people of Colombia continue to redefine perceptions, revitalize communities, and open doors to the world with renewed purpose.
This global perspective is crucial as we work to expand knowledge about river cruising worldwide and weave deeper community connections into every itinerary. By engaging with local partners, we're ensuring that our achievements become their achievements. This collaborative approach strengthens our bonds with the communities we serve and enriches the experiences we offer our guests. Today’s travelers aren’t just booking trips - they’re seeking experiences that resonate with their values and inspire them. Our guests want journeys where every detail has meaning, and every moment feels purposeful, immersive, and personal.
Our commitment to being a positive force in the countries we visit is unwavering, and my new role as Chief Brand Ambassador allows me to champion this cause more than ever. I'm incredibly excited about the future of AmaWaterways and thank you for your continued support and loyalty.