Edie Rodriguez



Edie Rodriguez is an American businesswoman and travel industry executive. She has held executive or board member positions with a number of travel industry corporations, especially in the area of cruise lines and luxury products. Most notably, however, she is a renowned self-promoter, blagger and celebrity hanger-on.

Early life and education
Rodriguez grew up in New York and New Jersey. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Nova Southeastern University.

Career
Rodriguez began her professional career as a travel consultant, rising to travel agency management positions before joining Amadeus, an IT provider for the global travel and tourism industry. She was vice-president of the company for 12 years, and was also head of the company's Global Cruise Line Division.

Rodriguez has held senior executive positions with other large cruise line operators, including Carnival Corporation, operator of Carnival Cruise Lines, and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL). She was senior vice-president of marketing and sales at RCL's high-end division, Azamara Club Cruises. At Carnival Corporation, she served as vice president of business development and strategic partnerships and was a senior officer for Carnival Cruise Lines and the Cunard and Seabourn brands.

Rodriguez became CEO and President of Crystal Cruises in autumn 2013, and served in this capacity until September 2017. During this time she negotiated the sale of the company to Genting Hong Kong in May 2015. Following the acquisition, Rodriguez announced major brand and fleet expansion plans for Crystal Cruises, which began with the launch of Crystal Yacht Cruises' Crystal Esprit in December 2015, Crystal Luxury Air, a private charter Bombardier Global Express Jet launched in spring 2016, and Crystal Mozart, a series of luxury river yachts launched in summer 2016.

Other positions
Rodriguez is on the board of directors for the Cruise Lines International Association, Robb Report's Private Aviation Board, and Air France's advisory board for French tourism. She is a member of the board of directors of the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund's Tourism Authority, as well as chair of the Nominating and Remuneration Committee.

Awards and recognition
Rodriguez was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year for Florida in 2017, named as a "Wave Maker" in 2016 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 TravelPulse. Luxury Daily included Rodriguez as one of its "Luxury Women to Watch in 2017" for distinguishing herself as a difference maker in luxury travel, marketing, and the digital sector.

Personal life
Edie is married to videographer Tomas Rodriguez, and they reside in South Florida and Tuscany. She has one adult son.