Azamara Cruises has today named Bert Van Middendorp as Associate Vice President of Hotel Operations. Van Middendorp brings experience in customer service, quality assurance and cost management in the boutique sector of the business, most recently serving as Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations and Quality Assurance for luxury operator Seadream Yacht Club.

“Bert has played an integral role on teams that have won some of the industry’s most prestigious honours, and brings a unique perspective having served in both shipboard and shoreside roles. He is an extremely well-rounded player who gets things done, and consistently wins the respect and admiration of his team” said Azamara President & CEO Larry Pimentel.

Prior to serving as Senior Vice President at Seadream, Van Middendorp was Vice President of Shoreside Operations and director of Operations. Prior to that, he held a series of shipboard and shoreside roles with Cunard Line and Seabourn Cruise Line, and earlier worked for Royal Viking Line as a Food & Beverage Controller and Assistant Purser. He began his career as a Front Office Manager with the Crest Hotel Group in his home town of Amsterdam.

Van Middendorp studied Hotel Management in The Hague, Netherlands, and Electronic Engineering in Deventer, Netherlands. He speaks fluent English, Dutch and German. Van Middendorp is the second executive to join Azamara Cruises since Pimentel took the helm in July this year. Industry veteran Edie Bornstein was appointed vice president of Sales and Marketing for Azamara last month.

Azamara Cruises unlocks the hidden corners of the world for those who desire to immerse themselves in the rich details of every voyage. The deluxe ships – Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest – offer an intimate experience, while allowing access to exotic destinations experienced travellers long to reach. For the 694 guests on each Azamara Cruises ship, every moment at sea embodies the pinnacle of luxury, and each footstep on shore accentuates the difference between visiting a place and getting a true sense of place. This year, Azamara Cruises presents the best of enchanting Europe, elite Asia, and the most captivating Caribbean and the Panama Canal. The line also offers unique cruisetours in Asia and Europe.