Crystal Cruises today announced the promotion of 22-year Crystal veteran Toni Neumeister to Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations, responsible for all hotel, food and beverage, entertainment and land programs for Crystal’s expanding portfolio of travel experiences.
The appointment follows the resignation of company Chief Operating Officer Thomas Mazloum, who has departed to pursue another opportunity outside of the cruise industry.
In conjunction with this, Crystal is also restructuring its vessel operations division with the company with marine operations reporting to Gustaf Gronberg, Senior Vice President of Marine Operations in Genting Cruise Lines, which owns three brands – Crystal Cruises, Star Cruises and Dream Cruises. Additionally, the company’s casino operations will be headed up by Terry Smith, current Director of Casino Operations at Crystal Cruises. Casino Operations will be franchised and transferred to Resorts World at Sea (RWAS).
Mazloum has served as COO of Crystal Cruises since May 2015, overseeing shipboard operations and shoreside guest services for all divisions of Crystal Cruises. He began his cruise industry career at Crystal Cruises with the 1990 launch of the line’s first ship, Crystal Harmony. He left the company in 2002 for three years to work at Disney where he last served as general manager for Epcot® at Walt Disney World, before returning to Crystal.
“As the Crystal portfolio continues on its unprecedented expansion to present luxurious new ways to explore the world, we will continue to look for the most talented individuals to lead and grow our award-winning hospitality brand,” Edie Rodriguez, president and CEO, said. “Eminently respected throughout the industry, the Crystal team’s innovative ideas, exacting attention to detail and keen understanding of today’s luxury traveler are credited for much of Crystal’s success in delivering experiences that consistently earn the highest praise of the world’s most discerning travelers.
“Crystal’s hotel operations could not be in better hands as Toni takes the lead in ensuring our award-winning standards of excellence continue to surprise and delight our guests across all Crystal experiences, by sea, river, land and air,” Rodriguez continued.
Neumeister’s more than 30 years of luxury travel experience includes a career that began with Royal Viking Line. He worked for Cunard and prestigious hotels in Austria before joining Crystal in 1995. His experience is deeply rooted in the culinary arts, a passion that resulted in Crystal’s industry-leading alliances with renowned chefs, including the company’s long-standing partnership with Nobuyaki Matsuhisa, and the creation of the highly-acclaimed Crystal Wine & Food Festival program. For the better part of the last two decades, he and Mazloum have worked side-by-side in developing and perfecting the nuanced points of excellence that have continually rewarded Crystal with more World’s Best accolades than any other cruise line in history.
“I am thrilled to take on these expanded responsibilities during such an exciting time at Crystal, and look forward to the continued elevation of the Crystal Experience across all of our new brands, by sea, river, land and air,” Neumeister said. “It is a privilege to work with such professionals, on our ships and in our offices around the world, whose creativity, dedication and unique understanding of hospitality make for an enjoyable experience for all, especially our guests.”
The reorganization of marine and technical operations under Gronberg, and casino under Smith, allows Crystal to benefit from the Genting and Resorts World renowned expertise.
