PHOTO: AmaWaterways co-founders Rudi Schreiner and Kristin Karst were multiple winners. (TravelPulse photo)
Awards season is upon us and the 2017 Travvy Awards are fast-approaching. This relatively new celebration of the travel industry is quickly becoming one of the most celebrated events and the 2017 awards will be no different.
New York's Gotham Hall will once again set the stage for the Travvy Awards where the coveted gold statuettes will be handed out to a crowd of industry greats on Jan. 25, 2017.
Looking forward to the 2017 Travvy Awards, we are remembering some of the winners that have graced the stage in previous years.
Best Cruise Line Overall: AMAWATERWAYS
AmaWaterways is a highly rated, international operation that offers river cruises on 22 vessels sailing throughout Europe, Asia and Africa.
Yet, its ships still offer a comfortable, friendly ambiance that comes with family-owned companies. AmaWaterways has always been very travel agent-friendly since it was founded in 2002 by Rudi Schreiner, Kristin Karst and Jimmy Murphy. The company also is known for its innovative features on its ships, most notably the Twin Balconies concept, in which staterooms and suites have both a French balcony and a full balcony with seating. AmaWaterways ships have alternative dining in Chef's Table restaurants and some have heated swimming pools and swim-up bars.
In 2016, AmaWaterways will welcome two new vessels in Europe, 158-passenger sister ships, AmaViola and AmaStella. They'll have a new feature for river ships - connecting staterooms. The company will introduce a new destination this spring when it launches 22 "Taste of Bordeaux" sailings aboard AmaDolce on the Garonne and Dordogne rivers in France's renowned wine region. Eight of the 22 departures will be special wine-themed voyages with wine experts. After trying out the concept six years ago, the company has greatly expanded its wine-theme cruise program.
RUNNER-UP: Viking Cruises
Under the bold oversight of Torstein Hagen, Viking Cruises grew from a four-ship Russian river cruise product in 1997 into a massive operation with 60 river vessels by 2015. The company operates on rivers in Europe, Russia, Egypt, China, and Southeast Asia. Seven more Longships are scheduled to enter service this spring.
RIVER CRUISE WINNERS BY REGION Gold and silver winners, respectively
Best River Cruise Line-Africa: Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, Crystal Cruises
Best River Cruise Line-Asia: AmaWaterways, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Best River Cruise Line-Europe: AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways
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READ MORE: The 2016 Travvy Awards Winners List
If you didn't attend last year's gala, see what you missed here. And get ready, as travAlliancemedia CEO Mark Murphy promises that the third edition of the show will be the most electric night of the travel industry awards season.
Make sure you grab your seat or table now - the event is sure to sell out with only limited seating still available. Individual seats are still available for $450 per person. So make sure you act now to get your favorite travel professional a holiday gift that will let them network with the industry's elite stars.
If you're interested in more information on the gala or to inquire about availability of the $4,000 VIP tables, contact travAlliancemedia at 865-505-1400 or email awards@travalliance.com.
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