Guildford - (Oct. 14, 2019) -
AmaWaterways today proudly announced that its Co-Founders, President Rudi Schreiner and Executive Vice President Kristin Karst, were selected to join AFAR Media’s 2019 Travel Vanguard for their exceptional efforts to create immersive and intimate experiences that make a difference in the world. The couple was honoured at an invitation-only event at New York City’s Florence Gould Hall on the evening of 3rd October 2019 before influential figures in the travel industry and members of the media.
"We're incredibly honoured to join the ranks of AFAR’s Travel Vanguard with people who inspire us to continue curating unforgettable journeys and remind us that travel can be a force for good in the world," said Schreiner. "When we started AmaWaterways in 2002, our goal was to share the beauty of the rivers of Europe and the history, food and wine of the countries that Kristin and I came from. Today, we have 24 ships sailing the world’s rivers, and we are motivated more than ever to preserve the natural beauty of those waterways and through interaction with the local communities, nurture understanding and acceptance of different cultures along the journey."
In their fourth year, the prestigious Travel Vanguard is the highest honour AFAR can bestow and recognises leaders who not only help shape the future of travel but harness the power of travel to make the world a better place for future generations. Both travellers themselves, and travel industry leaders, comprise this year's list of 12 honoured global visionaries.
"I'm delighted to welcome this year's group of visionaries into AFAR's Travel Vanguard," said Jennifer Flowers, AFAR’s Deputy Editor and lead editor for AFAR Vanguard. "Their dedication, focus, and ability to make a positive impact in the world is work well worth celebrating, and sharing with our larger community, which includes the world’s best and most influential travellers."
With the dynamic duo of Schreiner and Karst at the helm, AmaWaterways has earned a reputation for transforming the river cruise industry by introducing innovative ship design, creating enriching and immersive shore excursions, and providing award-winning cuisine, fine locally sourced wine and attentive, personalised guest service. They were the first to introduce active hiking and biking excursions to the rivers and have recently pioneered a comprehensive wellness programme onboard their fleet. This year marked a banner year for AmaWaterways with the introduction of three new ships to its award-winning fleet, including the revolutionary AmaMagna, which is twice the width of traditional river cruise ships and has redefined luxury river cruising.
AFAR’s stories about AmaWaterways' co-founders can be found in AFAR magazine's November/December 2019 issue, as well as on AFAR.com here: www.afar.com/vanguard-2019