As the travel industry begins to make its comeback, all eyes are on the cruise industry. We gathered a panel of cruise experts who will discuss what the future of cruising looks like and how every travel advisor can be ready for clients to set sail again. During the webinar, we cover various topics including safety measures on the ships, how advisors can market these trips, and so much more!
Panelists include:
- Laurie K. Bohn, Director, National Accounts, Training & Trade Associations, Sales, Royal Caribbean International
- Kristin Karst, Executive Vice President and Co-Owner of AmaWaterways
- Charles Sylvia, Vice President of Industry and Trade Relations with Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)
About the Panelists:
Royal Caribbean International information from webinar:
Laurie K. Bohn
Director, National Accounts, Training, & Trade Associations, Sales, Royal Caribbean International
Laurie Bohn is Royal Caribbean International’s director of National Accounts, Training &
Trade Associations. As part of the industry’s largest sales organization, she oversees
trade association partnerships, training and the cruise line’s relationships with North
America’s top travel advisors, agencies and networks. Bohn and her team manage the
sales and marketing initiatives of these accounts, driving an original approach to
achieving success.
With years of management experience in the cruise industry, Bohn brings with her a
broad perspective and varied expertise in working with all business channels. She most
recently was director of Trade Sales and National Training, a position instrumental in
executing Royal Caribbean’s award-winning trade strategy. In this role, Bohn led the
operations of business development services as well as national training for the
company’s sales force and travel partners in the U.S. and Canada.
With years of management experience in the cruise industry, Bohn brings with her a
broad perspective and varied expertise in working with all business channels. She most
recently was director of Trade Sales and National Training, a position instrumental in
executing Royal Caribbean’s award-winning trade strategy. In this role, Bohn led the
operations of business development services as well as national training for the
company’s sales force and travel partners in the U.S. and Canada.
She previously spent 15 years at Holland America Line and Seabourn, serving as director
of National Account Sales. Bohn also has the know-how of working in the field from her
time as a sales manager for sister cruise line Celebrity Cruises.
In 2018, Bohn was honored with the ASTA Small Business Network Supplier Liaison of
the Year award by the American Society of Travel Advisors, the leading global advocate
for travel professionals. She is also a member of the board of trustees for The Travel
Institute – the education destination for travel professionals.
Bohn earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia. She
resides in Miami with her husband, Laurent.
Kristin Karst
Executive Vice President and Co-Owner of AmaWaterways
A native of Dresden, Germany, Kristin Karst has become one of the leading executives in the river cruise industry. After obtaining her degree in Economics of Tourism & Business Management and receiving an MBA from the University of Dresden, Kristin worked for American Express in Germany and Switzerland for eight years before relocating to the United States and entering the river cruise industry in 2000. In 2002, she co-founded AmaWaterways together with Rudi Schreiner and Jimmy Murphy. Together, they built 25 award-winning ships sailing the rivers of Europe, Asia, and Africa over the last 18 years. Through her role and entrepreneurial spirit, Kristin has successfully shaped the products and services of the company, while remaining one of river cruising’s strongest advocates. She has been recognized as one of 2020’s Top 100 Female Founders by Inc. Magazine for her relentless passion and commitment to creating the best experience for travel advisors, group leaders, and guests.
Charles Sylvia, ECC
Vice President of Industry and Trade Relations with Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)
Charles Sylvia, ECC is Vice President of Industry and Trade Relations with Cruise Lines
International Association (CLIA). Charles’s 26-year career in cruise sales and marketing began
with his starting out as a front-line travel agent at a brick-and-mortar agency in his hometown
near Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
After a decade successfully building group cruise sales on the leisure side of the business,
Charles moved to the corporate side, producing meetings, incentives, conferences and events
at sea for Access TCA, a Boston-based corporate exhibit and events agency. Charles built Access
TCA’s “at sea” division from the ground up.
In addition to his being a lifelong cruise enthusiast, Charles is also interested in start-ups,
serving as an advisor to graduate students in Brown University’s Program in Innovation
Management and Entrepreneurship (PRIME).
In his role at CLIA, Charles champions the interests of CLIA’s North American Travel Trade
Membership, comprised of more than 40,000 travel agency owners and agents, and he serves
as primary liaison for CLIA’s Strategic Trade Advisory and Review Board (STARBoard) and Trade
Relations Committee.