Cruise Saudi has appointed Norbert Stiekema as Director of Sales and Marketing. Stiekema is an industry expert with over three decades of global experience in business and change management across various sectors, including hospitality, leisure, entertainment, and travel.
Before joining Cruise Saudi, Stiekema was Commercial Director of the Giga project, owned by the Public Investment Fund, Qiddiya Investment Company, which develops sports, arts, and leisure activities in Riyadh. He has also held several key positions in the cruise, travel, and tourism industry throughout his career, including Director of Strategy and Digital, as well as Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Costa Cruises (part of Carnival Corporation) in Italy; Senior Vice President of Sales and Distribution at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, EMEA; and worked for 14 years at the Dutch national airline KLM.
Fawaz Farooqui, Managing Director of Cruise Saudi, commented: “Our diverse team of industry experts is working diligently to develop a sustainable and integrated local cruise sector, with the aim of positioning Saudi Arabia as a premier cruise destination on the world stage. Norbert brings a wealth of experience to the company, and we are delighted to welcome him aboard to help us achieve our goals.”
Stiekema said: “I am delighted to be part of Cruise Saudi, the company responsible for bringing cruises to Saudi Arabia. The success achieved in establishing this new sector in such a short time demonstrates the enormous potential of this industry and the dedication of the team. Cruises offer travelers a multidimensional experience that combines entertainment, hospitality, tourism, leisure, and culture, and I look forward to working with the team to elevate this experience.”.
