Luxury river cruise line AmaWaterways has strengthened its Australia and New Zealand presence with the appointment of three new team members, a key milestone in the company’s regional growth just 20 months after its local launch.
The additions – Marketing Coordinator Josefina Luna and River Cruise Specialists Kev Harmalkar and Eddie Chang – double the size of the start-up team and underscore the brand’s commitment to providing elevated support for the travel-advisor community across both markets.
Steve Richards, Managing Director for Australia & New Zealand, said the expanded team reflects AmaWaterways’ long-term commitment to the region. “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,” he said.
In her role as Marketing Coordinator, Luna brings a “fresh and dynamic perspective” to AmaWaterways’ ANZ travel-trade outreach. With experience in travel and tourism marketing, she will lead creative initiatives and digital campaigns designed to ensure the river-cruise offering “resonates across Australia and New Zealand.” Her appointment strengthens the company’s marketing capabilities at a time when demand for curated, immersive travel experiences continues to rise.
Harmalkar joins the reservations team with “deep reservations and product knowledge” and a strong understanding of the luxury river-cruise sector. He will work closely with travel advisors, providing specialist guidance to help clients select the ideal combination of rivers, ships and itineraries. Fellow River Cruise Specialist Chang enhances the team further, focusing on “delivering personalised service, seamless client interactions and trade partner support.”
“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,” Richards said. “We look forward to working closely with our partners as we grow the business together.”
