A significant development in the luxury river cruise industry, a US-based investment firm acquires a substantial stake in AmaWaterways.
- The acquisition by L Catterton involves shares from a consortium led by Certares and impacts AmaWaterways’ ownership structure.
- AmaWaterways’ founders, including Rudi Schreiner and Kristin Karst, retain significant ownership amidst this strategic shift.
- L Catterton aims to leverage its expertise in luxury travel to enhance AmaWaterways’ growth and innovation.
- AmaWaterways recently reported substantial growth in travel agent bookings, reflecting its market potential.
In a noteworthy move within the luxury river cruise sector, a prominent US investment firm, L Catterton, has acquired a ‘significant stake’ in AmaWaterways. This acquisition is noteworthy as it involves shares previously held by a consortium led by investment firm Certares. The transaction has resulted in a reshuffling of AmaWaterways’ ownership structure while allowing its founders to maintain a notable degree of control.
Rudi Schreiner, AmaWaterways’ co-founder and CEO, expressed enthusiasm about this new chapter, highlighting L Catterton’s deep understanding of contemporary consumer desires and innovative ideas for collaboration. He emphasized the firm’s commitment to innovation and delivering unparalleled guest experiences, which aligns with L Catterton’s strategic vision for fostering growth opportunities.
From L Catterton’s perspective, co-managing partner Marc Magliacano noted the importance of creating meticulously curated experiences as luxury travel demand rises. He articulated the firm’s intentions to utilise its global network to identify new growth avenues and support AmaWaterways’ spirit of innovation, which has been pivotal to its success over two decades.
Supporting these developments, AmaWaterways has shown remarkable market performance with a reported 78% year-on-year increase in travel agent bookings earlier this year. This growth underscores the company’s potential and the promising impact of the new investment dynamics.
The strategic investment by L Catterton heralds a promising phase of innovation and growth for AmaWaterways.
