Riviera Travel has made two hires for its North America sales team. The river cruise line named Eric Schmit vice president of sales for North America and Jarret Kettinger regional sales director.
Eric Schmit
Schmit will lead the company's North America sales strategy and joins Riviera with close to 15 years of experience in luxury travel and hospitality. He most recently worked as director of business development and national accounts at Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
"Eric brings a strong blend of energy, strategic thinking and a collaborative spirit that aligns perfectly with our ambitious growth plans," said Stuart Milan, Riviera's president of North America. "Eric's deep understanding of the luxury cruise market and his passion for building meaningful partnerships will be a key asset as we expand our presence across North America."
Jarret Kettinger
Based in South Carolina, Kettinger has a background in hospitality sales and a strong track record of cultivating travel advisor relationships, the river cruise line said. He most recently served as director of key and host accounts at Railbookers Group.
Riviera is launching two new ships this year: the 178-passenger Riviera Radiance will sail the Danube starting in June, and the 114-passenger Riviera Rose started sailing Portugal's Douro in April. A 178-passenger newbuild, the Riviera Resplendence, is due in 2026.
The new hires come as Riviera aims to increase its U.S. sales.