Dondra Ritzenthaler, Celebrity Cruises’ sr. v.p. of sales for the Americas, has announced her retirement. Travel partners learned of the news via an email she sent them.
“The time is simply right for me to start the next phase of my life and recharge my batteries,” she said in the email. Adding, “I’ll be filling my time with sports, giving back, public speaking and all kinds of activities.”
Ritzenthaler has been with the company for 20 years and she’ll be saying goodbye this May.
This announcement comes on the heels of another huge announcement for the cruise line, with Celebrity’s president and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo set to step down as well. Lutoff-Perlo, however, will stay on at Celebrity’s parent company, Royal Caribbean Group, as vice chair of external affairs. Laura Hodges Bethge will take over as president of Celebrity Cruises on May 1. She is currently the executive v.p. of shared services operations at the Royal Caribbean Group.
Ritzenthaler, Long-time Trade Advocate is Set to Retire
Ritzenthaler continued the letter by expressing her love for the trade, noting: “I want you to know that working with all of you has absolutely been my great honor and the ride of a lifetime. We truly have done so much together and I could be prouder of all we have accomplished.”
“You embraced me with open arms when I joined the Celebrity brand in 2003 as the first-ever v.p. of sales. In turn, we’ve worked especially hard at Celebrity to always be there for you, and especially throughout the pandemic and our collective recovery.”
No immediate successor has yet been named, but according to the email Ritzenthaler sent trade partners, the sales and services team will report directly to Hodges Bethge for an interim period.
