Celebrity Cruises' Dondra Ritzenthaler Announces Retirement
by Dori Saltzman /Dondra Ritzenthaler, Celebrity's popular and dynamic senior vice president of sales for the Americas, is retiring after 20 years at the cruise line. She announced her retirement via an email sent to trade partners.
According to her email, "The time is simply right for me to start the next phase of my life and recharge my batteries."
She added she has no intention of slowing down – not a surprise to anyone who knows her. "I'll be filling my time with sports, giving back, public speaking and all kinds of activities," she wrote.
Ritzenthaler has been with Celebrity for 20 years, having joined the company in 2003, after previously spending 20 years at American Airlines.
One of the most popular sales executives in the cruise industry, Ritzenthaler has been a vocal advocate for the travel agency community since day one. Her love for the trade was always on display at the numerous conferences and trade events she attended.
"I want you to know that working with all of you has absolutely been my great honor and the ride of a lifetime," she wrote in her letter to trade partners. "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 Vice President 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."
The love is mutual.
"Throughout her distinguished career, Dondra has been a tireless advocate for travel advisors and has played an instrumental role in shaping the success of Celebrity Cruises," said David Crooks, senior vice president of product and operations for World Travel Holdings. "Her passion, dedication, and leadership have left an indelible mark on the industry and we are proud to have worked alongside her. And personally, she was an incredible friend to many, including all of us at WTH."
Ritzenthaler will step down in May. No immediate successor has yet been named, but according to her email the sales tem will report directly to the line's new brand president Laura Hodges Bethge for an "interim period."
In true Ritzenthaler style, she signed off: "From the bottom of my heart, thanks for a SUPER FANTASTIC time."
