AmaWaterways is adding more hands on deck in Australia and New Zealand, naming three new team members and effectively doubling the size of its local start-up crew. The move builds on its 20-month presence in the region and strengthens support for a growing trade demand for river cruising.
The new appointments include Marketing Coordinator Josefina Luna, who will lead creative and digital campaigns across both markets.
AmaWaterways says her travel and tourism background will help sharpen its message with advisors and travellers.
Two River Cruise Specialists also join the reservations team. Kev Harmalkar brings detailed product and reservations experience, while Eddie Chang steps in to boost personalised service and trade support. Both will help match clients to the right ships, rivers and itineraries.
AmaWaterways says the hires add depth to its sales, reservations, sales support and marketing teams, marking a key milestone for its expanding ANZ operation.
The company also highlights its commitment to giving advisors stronger on-the-ground support as local interest in river cruising continues to rise.
Steve Richards, Managing Director, Australia & New Zealand, commented, “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Josefina, Kev and Eddie to our AmaWaterways family. Their specialist skills and passion for river cruising bring fresh energy to our local presence and will directly enhance how we serve our trade partners.
“In just under two years we’ve built a team dedicated to this market and doubling our numbers now means we can offer even stronger, more personalised support to our valued travel-advisor community. We look forward to working closely with our partners as we grow the business together.”
This month, AmaWaterways launched its second luxury river cruise ship, AmaMelodia, in Colombia, reflecting its “strong confidence” in the region. Read more about that here.
KARRYON UNPACKS: We love seeing river cruise momentum building on this side of the world, especially with brands investing in real people on the ground. For travel advisors, more local expertise means quicker answers, better client matching and a smoother path to conversion. It’s another sign that the river cruise category isn’t slowing down, and the trade is squarely at the centre of its growth.
