Travel industry veteran brings nearly three decades of experience across sales, hospitality and customer experience
CALABASAS, Calif. – AmaWaterways, a leader in luxury river cruising, today announced the appointment of Steve Spivak as Chief Commercial Officer, effective September 30. The appointment marks an important evolution in AmaWaterways’ leadership structure as the company continues to build on its strong growth and momentum in the luxury river cruise market. A seasoned travel and hospitality executive, Spivak brings nearly three decades of leadership experience and a deep passion for building strong relationships, developing people and creating exceptional guest experiences.
In his new role, Spivak will lead AmaWaterways’ Sales, Global Service & Reservations, and Revenue Management teams, bringing these key areas of the business together under one commercial strategy. He will focus on supporting the 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. “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.”
Prior to joining AmaWaterways, Spivak spent 14 years with Tauck, most recently serving as Vice President of Global Sales and Customer Experience. During his tenure, he held a broad range of commercial and customer leadership responsibilities across sales, marketing, public relations, customer experience and strategic partnerships, developing strong relationships with travel advisors and partners around the world.
Before joining 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, building extensive experience across the hospitality industry.
Spivak began his career as an entrepreneur, creating and operating a portfolio of restaurant and hospitality concepts. He later 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.”