Ritzenthaler a “Hard Act to Follow”: Advisors React to Retirement Announcement

When Celebrity Cruises’ popular vice president of sales for the Americas Dondra Ritzenthaler announced her retirement this weekend, it sent shock waves through the travel agency distribution channel. The dynamic and exuberantly positive sales exec has been a vocal advocate of travel advisors for 20 years and it’s clear the trade is going to miss her.

TMR reached out to advisors and agency executives for their reactions.

Industry Icon
“Dondra is an icon in this industry, and she will be missed. She always brought passion, energy and professionalism to her role and has been a true advocate for the entire travel distribution channel. I wish her nothing but happiness and success as she moves on to the next chapter of her life with her husband, Kevin, and their children.” – John Lovell, president of Travel Leaders Group

Force of Nature
“Dondra has been an incredible icon in this business for 20 years.  There aren’t many people that can break into the cruise industry, at a senior level, and not only fit in, but thrive.  She is an absolute force of nature with a kind heart and a servant’s attitude.   Her mark on this industry is something that won’t be forgotten.” – Alex Sharpe, president and CEO of Signature Travel Network

Great Friend
“Dondra has guided Celebrity Cruises’ relationships with travel partners for 20 years and built an incredibly strong reputation for having a positive attitude, in good times and bad, and she has become a great friend to not only me but the entire industry.  I wish her all the best in this next chapter and will miss her very much.” – Michelle Fee, CEO & Founder of Cruise Planners

Positive Beacon
“Dondra has always been such a positive spirit and truly embodies what she speaks about with such passion, which is ‘Attitude is Everything.’ Her energy is infectious, she is humble, genuine and truly cares about her team and travel partners. I know she will be missed dearly. I hope she has a super fantastic next chapter and I wish her all the best!” – Theresa Scalzitti, COO, Cruise Planners

Hard Act to Follow
“Dondra is without question a legend at Celebrity and in the cruise industry. Her zest and passion for the Celebrity brand was and is evident in everything she does in her life. Her personality and contagious smile and drive has helped make Celebrity the outstanding company it is today. She will, without a doubt, be a very hard act to follow… We will surely miss our dynamic Dondra and will welcome and help her successor with the same level of commitments we gave to Dondra.” – Scott Grody, owner of Scott Grody Travel, the 22 Inside Sales Account of the Year for Celebrity Cruises and a NEST member agency

True Inspiration
“Dondra has been a true inspiration to so many of us in the industry. Her tireless advocacy for the trade, genuine leadership, and positive, fierce passion will be missed greatly. She is a dear friend to all of us at AMG and we wish her all the best in this next exciting phase of her life.” – Nicole Mazza, chief marketing officer for TRAVELSAVERS

Tireless Advocate
“We are deeply grateful for Dondra Ritzenthaler’s contributions to the cruise industry, and we extend our warmest congratulations to her on her retirement. 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. Her passion, dedication, and leadership have left an indelible mark on the industry and we are proud to have worked alongside her… We wish her all the best in her future endeavors and look forward to continuing our collaboration with Celebrity Cruises to bring the best possible experiences to our valued customers.” – David Crooks, senior vice president of product and operations for World Travel Holdings

True Leader
“As Dondra Ritzenthaler begins a new chapter in her life, we want to express our sincere appreciation for her remarkable career and unwavering commitment to the travel industry. Dondra has been a true leader in terms of her impact on the success of Celebrity Cruises and her advocacy for travel advisors. We have been honored to work alongside her and witness her dedication to providing exceptional customer experiences. Her friendship and mentorship will be greatly missed. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors and know she will have a positive impact wherever she goes.” – Debbie Fiorino, COO, World Travel Holdings (Dream Vacations’ and CruiseOne’s parent company)