Name: Christopher Prelog

Final school year: 1993

Type of school: HLT

Current position: President of Windstar Cruises

Place of residence: Seattle Washington

Most important career stages:   1. Waiter, Seabourn Legend

2. Hotel Director, Seabourn Legend
3. Manager Hotel Operations – Seabourn
4. Vice President Fleet Operations – Windstar
5. President of Windstar Cruises

Chris, you are president of Windstar Cruises. What makes your cruiseline special and who are your guests?

We are a cruiseline with small ships that can accommodate less than 350 guests. What makes us special is the personal service that comes from the strong connection between officers, crew and our guests. The small “size” of the ships also makes it easier for us to dock in harbours where large ships cannot go. It allows us to offer a holiday away from the tourist metropolises. Our guests, who are mostly from the US, appreciate this aspect.

In your position you have a lot of responsibility and it is a great challenge! But in times of Corona it is even greater. How is your company doing in the crisis and what are your plans for 2021?

We are working very hard to offer our guests a holiday that is safe and above all, does not endanger their health. The cruise industry is known for being very quick to adapt to a new situation and to act with foresight. This is the part of the industry that I personally appreciate. There is no question that when the cruise industry takes in guests again, it will set pioneering standards for many other industries. That is what we here at Windstar are focusing on in our planning.

What about sustainability, what measures do you have in place at your company regarding CO2 neutrality, alternative forms of propulsion etc.? What are the general trends in the cruise industry and what do you think will prevail in the long run?

This is a great question and sustainability is very important to us here at Windstar. For example, we are in the process of replacing all the engines on our Star Class ships with the latest technologically optimised engines. The result is already visible. We have significantly reduced our CO2 emissions. Furthermore, we have of course our 3 sail ships (Wind Star, Wind Spirit and Wind Surf) which move sustainably with the sails.  The industry itself and the entire shipping industry, as part of the IMO (International Maritime Organization), has made the reduction of CO2 its primary goal. This will come into force from January 2021.

How important are these sustainability aspects to your guests? What do your target groups want?

Our guests are very interested in sustainability. They also want us to offer more destination-oriented services on the ships – in other words, they want the holiday destination of the respective cruise to be implemented as a theme on the ship itself. In our “World Spa” programme we do exactly that. Furthermore, the destination is also implemented in our menus in culinary terms.

Apart from that the Windstar guest does not expect to stand in long queues in front of an entrance, but wants to be closely connected to the culture and lifestyle of the destination.

Cruises have become affordable, attractive and accessible for a much wider range of people in Europe in recent years. In the USA, this has been the case for much longer. What will this look like in the future, after Corona but also in terms of a sustainable form of the cruise tourism?

The cruise industry is a very small industry, 2% of the total travel industry. It has a huge potential and will definitely grow even after the pandemic. It will take some time to get new guests after Corona, but the cruise is a unique holiday experience and offers a very wide range of holiday experiences. There is something for everyone.

Do you have any advice for our pupils and students who dream of making a career on a cruiseline? What should one look out for when choosing a company and which positions should one go through?

The cruise industry is incredibly exciting and will grow proportionally, which is a good basis for a career. However, it is also a lot of work and you have to give yourself time and put a lot of energy into it. Your teachers and the training in Bad Gleichenberg are the basis for your career. As Austrians you are internationally recognised and respected in the gastronomy. Now it depends on you! There are many factors to consider when choosing a company. I prefer small companies where the results of my work are visible and where I have the feeling of contributing to something. For me, this was the decisive factor in choosing the company. Finally, as advice for your career, think of your partners and family as part of your career! For me this is number 1 and I would not be where I am today if I did not have the support of my family.

Thank you very much for the interview!