Meet Edie Rodriguez!

[LauraS]

Edie Rodriguez is the Chairman, CEO and president of Crystal Luxury Corporation, Ltd.– The World’s Most Luxurious Hospitality and Lifestyle Brand Portfolio™ whose holdings include Crystal Cruises, The World’s Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line™, Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises, Crystal River Cruises, The World’s Only Luxury River Cruise Line™, Crystal Luxury Air, a private jet charter service, Crystal AirCruises featuring lavish 15 to 29-day global adventures in the extreme comfort of a Boeing 777, and Crystal Exclusive Class™ ships with Crystal Residences.

 

 

Rodriguez joined Crystal as president and COO in October 2013; she was promoted to Chairman, CEO and president following the acquisition of the company by Genting Hong Kong in May 2015.

 

The native New Yorker is a 35-year veteran in the international cruise, travel and technology industries, with a successful track record in the luxury segment that has propelled her to become the only female CEO in the luxury cruise industry. Prior to Crystal, Rodriguez previously held senior marketing, sales and business development positions with other notable luxury lines, establishing profitable partnerships between the cruise lines and other esteemed luxury brands such as Canyon Ranch, Hermès, Clicquot and Todd English.

 

In 2015, Rodriguez unveiled the blueprint for a major brand and fleet expansion for Crystal, which has been dubbed by the travel and hospitality industry as the largest expansion in history for any luxury brand. The unprecedented growth began with the launch of Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises’ Crystal Esprit in December 2015, followed by Crystal Luxury Air, a private charter Bombardier Global Express Jet outfitted for just 12 guests in spring 2016, and Crystal Mozart, the first of a series of luxury river yachts in summer 2016.

 

Under her helm, Crystal is scheduled to debut two new luxury river yachts in summer 2017, with two more vessels in 2018, the inaugural journey of Crystal AirCruises on August 31, 2017 along with an array of global itineraries through 2018, the launch of three polar class expedition mega-yachts starting with the first vessel in 2019 and the introduction of Crystal Exclusive Class ocean ships with Crystal Residences in 2022. Rodriguez is also overseeing Crystal’s plans to make the historic Shrine Building in downtown Miami its central display showcase location for its luxury portfolio, scheduled to open in spring 2017.

 

Rodriguez was recognized as a “Wave Maker” by Afar Magazine as one of ten visionaries making travel better and selected as one of the most influential people in travel in 2016 by the editors of TravelPulse.com. Luxury Daily selected Rodriguez as one of its Luxury Women to Watch in 2017 for distinguishing herself as a difference maker in luxury travel, marketing, and digital sector.

 

Rodriguez sits on the Board of Directors for the Cruise Line Industry Association, Robb Report’s Private Aviation Board, and Air France’s Advisory Board for French Tourism.

 

As a young child, Rodriguez’s wanderlust was inspired by the gift of a beautiful porcelain Geisha doll from her aunt following a trip to Japan. She became intrigued by world customs and cultures and, since the tender age of six, has dreamed of visiting every country in the world. Through her work and personal adventures, she has visited more than 100 countries on all seven continents, citing Tuscany as her absolute favorite destination.

 

As a “mobile global” CEO, Rodriguez operates the exponentially growing company from destinations all over the world. Rodriguez resides near Miami, Florida, where she opened a regional office for Crystal in 2016, with the corporate headquarters remaining in Los Angeles. Also during her helm, Crystal has opened a regional office in Australia, a Crystal River Cruises operations office in Amsterdam, and expanded the company’s executive team considerably, broadening Crystal’s reach to wider audiences.

 

She is often joined in her global travels by her husband, Tom, and has one son, Max.