WHAT AmaWaterways is inviting the travel community to attend a Webinar Wednesday to learn about the first-ever river cruise journey down Colombia’s magnificent Magdalena River.
During this informative 45-minute session, AmaWaterways Co-Founders Rudi Schreiner and Kristin Karst will offer an inside look into the industry’s first-ever river cruises through Colombia and the distinctive guest experiences awaiting in “The Land of A Thousand Rhythms.” Attendees will also receive marketing toolkits and expert guidance on selling this highly sought-out new river cruise destination.
WHEN & WHERE 2024 Magnificent Magdalena Webinar Wednesday
PRESENTERS Rudi Schreiner, AmaWaterways co-founder and president
Visionary river cruise line executive Rudi Schreiner is a native of Vienna, Austria. After graduating with his MBA, Schreiner spent seven months doing research on a river raft on the Amazon River in Peru, his first experience with river cruising. Throughout the years, Schreiner has helped shape what is today one of the most thriving segments of travel – river cruising – serving in founding and leadership positions for virtually every modern river cruise company. In 2002, he teamed up with Kristin Karst and Jimmy Murphy to launch AmaWaterways. Leveraging his passion for the river and coinciding with the completion of the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal in 1992, Schreiner became a driving force for modern river cruise travel. His efforts have been recognized with a “Lifetime Achievement Award” fromTravel Weekly, the prestigious “Travel Vanguard Award” by AFAR Media and the “Lifetime Achievement Award” by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
Kristin Karst, AmaWaterways co-founder and executive vice president
A native of Dresden, Germany, Kristin Karst has become one of the leading executives in the river cruise industry. After obtaining her degrees in Hospitality & Business Management and an MBA from the University of Dresden, Karst worked for American Express for eight years. Karst relocated to the United States and, in 1999, entered the river cruise segment. Three years later, she co-founded AmaWaterways with Rudi Schreiner and Jimmy Murphy. Karst is well-known for her extensive knowledge of Europe’s rivers, culture and traditions, as well as her commitment to providing top-notch customer service and support to the travel advisory community. Karst has been named one of 2020’s “Top 100 Female Founders” by Inc. magazine.
About AmaWaterways
Family-owned and operated for 20 years, AmaWaterways offers unparalleled river cruise experiences with 26 custom-designed ships sailing Europe’s Danube, Douro, Rhine, Moselle, Main, Rhône, Saône, Seine, Garonne and Dordogne Rivers, and Dutch and Belgian Waterways; Southeast Asia’s Mekong River; Africa’s Chobe River; Egypt’s Nile River and Colombia’s Magdalena River (2024). Co-founded by pioneering river cruise executives Rudi Schreiner, Kristin Karst and Jimmy Murphy, the company is renowned for its warm and welcoming crew; innovative and sustainable ship design; a wide choice of included small group shore excursions featuring biking and hiking options; and award-winning, locally sourced cuisine paired with complimentary fine wine. Modern, spacious and tastefully decorated, most AmaWaterways ships welcome an average of just 150 guests and feature onboard amenities such as a stunning Main Lounge, The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant and heated outdoor swimming pool with swim-up bar. AmaWaterways leads the river cruise industry in innovation, highlighted by the launch of the revolutionary AmaMagna. In addition, 20 ships in AmaWaterways’ European fleet have received the prestigious Green Award certification for industry-leading safety, quality and environmental performance. AmaWaterways has received countless honors and accolades including the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) 2022 “River Cruise Line Partner of the Year” for seven years running.
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