AmaWaterways Names Steve Spivak Chief Commercial Officer
Spivak started as an entrepreneur running restaurant and hospitality businesses, later working in sales at Loews Hotels and in sales and marketing at Starwood Hotels and Resorts.
AmaWaterways has appointed Steve Spivak chief commercial officer, effective September 30. He joins the river cruise operator after 14 years at Tauck, where his most recent position was vice president of global sales and customer experience.
At the Calabasas, California-based company, Spivak will bring revenue management, sales and the Global Service & Reservations teams under a unified commercial strategy. His remit includes supporting growth and strengthening relationships with travel advisors, strategic partners and guests.
“Spivak 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, chief executive officer of AmaWaterways.
Spivak has nearly three decades of leadership experience across travel and hospitality. His responsibilities at Tauck spanned marketing, public relations and strategic partnerships alongside sales and customer experience, including work with travel advisors and partners internationally.
“What stood out to me about AmaWaterways was its genuine commitment to people, partnerships and the guest experience,” Spivak said. He also cited the company’s reputation among its guests and travel advisor partners as a foundation for his work with the team.
Before Tauck, Spivak was vice president of global sales at Loews Hotels. His earlier hospitality career included senior roles in sales and marketing at Starwood Hotels & Resorts.
Spivak started his career as an entrepreneur. He established and ran restaurant and hospitality businesses, and later taught as an adjunct professor at New York University’s Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism.
