- (Oct. 14, 2020) -
Canadian Travel Agents Name the Luxury Travel Brand as Top River Cruise Company
CALABASAS, CA – (October 7, 2020) – Leading river cruise line AmaWaterways today proudly announced it received Baxter Media’s Agents’ Choice Award for Favourite River Cruise Company. Voted on by Canadian travel advisors via the annual Agents’ Choice Readership Survey, these awards honour the industry’s favourite suppliers in more than 40 different travel categories. The award was proudly accepted by AmaWaterways’ Canadian sales team - Sandra Gardiner, director, national accounts; Shauna Carter, BDM Western Canada; and Neil Dudley, BDM Central Canada - during the Agents’ Choice Awards Virtual Gala on October 1. Dudley was also recognised as one of the Favourite Supplier Reps and BDMs by advisors across Canada during the same Gala event.
“Since founding AmaWaterways in 2002, the Canadian travel agency community has been very close to my heart. We are truly humbled and thrilled to receive this high recognition as their Favourite River Cruise Company,” said Kristin Karst, executive vice president and co-founder of AmaWaterways. “Our travel partners are such an essential part of our AmaFamily, and our teams have worked especially hard this year to ensure that they feel supported, connected and informed as together we navigate through the current challenges and prepare for a brighter future.”
AmaWaterways’ exceptional partner support and innovative digital tools were among the reasons the luxury river cruise company jumped to the top of the list in this year’s poll of 5,947 travel advisors across Canada. Through a variety of virtual marketing and training resources available on Travel Advisor Portal of AmaWaterways website - including AmaAcademy, Webinar Wednesdays, Sip & Sail events, and virtual cruise nights - the award-winning river cruise line has placed its connection with travel advisors as the top priority during this period of uncertainty.
The Agents’ Choice Readership Survey is Canada’s original and most authoritative travel industry poll. The survey asks Canadian travel advisors to choose their favourite travel suppliers in categories ranging from cruise lines, airlines, tour operators and more. Winners are featured in a special 21st anniversary edition of the Agents’ Choice Awards Issue, distributed to subscribers of Canadian Travel Press and Travel Courier.
Looking forward to continuing its tradition of innovation and excellence in river cruising, the line’s 2021/2022 seasons will feature five exciting new itineraries and new pre- and post-cruise land programs in some of Europe’s most sought-after destinations, including Lake Como, Italy and the French islet of St. Malo. Additionally, AmaWaterways will debut three newly designed river cruise ships -- AmaDahlia on Egypt’s Nile River and sister ships AmaSiena and AmaLucia to the European fleet.
To book an AmaWaterways river cruise for a client, visit the Travel Advisor Portal on AmaWaterways.ca or call 1.800.626.0126. Follow AmaWaterways on Facebook at Facebook.com/AmaWaterways, Instagram @AmaWaterways, Twitter @AmaWaterways, and YouTube at YouTube.com/AmaWaterways.
About AmaWaterways
A family-owned company celebrating 18 years on the river, AmaWaterways offers unforgettable river cruises with 25 ships sailing Europe’s Danube, Rhine, Moselle, Main, Rhône, Saône (2021), Seine, Garonne, Dordogne, Dutch and Belgian Waterways and Douro Rivers, Asia’s Mekong and Africa’s Chobe and Nile Rivers (2021). Led by experienced river cruise co-founders Rudi Schreiner and Kristin Karst, the company is renowned for its innovative stateroom design featuring unique “twin balconies;” its wellness activities including a wide choice of included shore excursions featuring biking and hiking options for the active traveler; and its award-winning dining—including The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant as well as complimentary fine wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner. Modern, spacious and tastefully decorated, each ship features onboard amenities such as hair and massage salons and a fitness room, and many have heated outdoor swimming pools with swim-up bars. AmaWaterways leads the river cruise industry in innovation highlighted with the launch of AmaMagna, which at twice the width of traditional river ships, offers a new dimension in luxury river cruising. The company also offers a variety of themed sailings and brand relationships, with sailings geared towards active travelers and families as well as group and charter options.
With the highest-rated ships in Europe according to the third edition of Berlitz: River Cruising in Europe & the USA, AmaWaterways has received countless honors and accolades including Cruise Critic’s 2019 Editor’s Pick Award for “Best River Cruise Line” and “Best for Active Cruisers,” 2018 AFAR Reader’s Choice Award for “Best River Cruise Line” and inclusion of AmaMagna in 2019 TIME “World’s Greatest Places.” In addition, 18 river cruise ships in its European fleet have earned the Green Award certification, recognized for industry-leading safety, quality and environmental performance.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Samantha Jacobs or Carter Long, Hemsworth Communications
(678) 631-9974 or AmaPR@HemsworthCommunications.com