CALABASAS, CA — AmaWaterways has appointed Steve Spivak as Chief Commercial Officer, effective Sept. 30.

Spivak brings nearly three decades of experience across travel, hospitality, sales and customer experience. He joins AmaWaterways after 14 years with Tauck, where he most recently served as Vice President of Global Sales and Customer Experience.

In his new role, he will lead AmaWaterways’ Sales, Global Service & Reservations and Revenue Management teams under a single commercial strategy, with a focus on supporting growth and 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.”

Spivak began his career as an entrepreneur, creating and operating restaurant and hospitality concepts, and later served as an adjunct professor at New York University’s Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism. Prior to Tauck, he also served as Vice President of Global Sales for Loews Hotels and held senior sales and marketing roles with Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

On what drew him to AmaWaterways, Spivak commended the company’s commitment to people, partnerships and the guest experience.

“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,” he said. 

Lead image caption: Steve Spivak, Chief Commercial Officer, AmaWaterways