Riviera Travel’s Dana Griffin

Riviera has hired longtime travel management professional Dana Griffin as its new Director of Sales for its U.S. sales office in Fairfield, Conn.

Griffin will help build awareness of Riviera Travel among the travel agent community.

In the past, Griffin has worked staffing call centers, produced $25 million in sales, and served on the advisory boards with Marriott and Trump Hotel Connection. She also worked for seven years as the director of operation, standards, and process with Valeria Wilson Travel.

“I’m excited to be working with Riviera River Cruises as it enters the U.S. market,” Griffin said. “My years of experience in sales, operations, management, business development and training will be helpful as we grow the business and promote the brand.”

Riviera entered the U.S. market earlier this year when it officially opened an American call center and launched a U.S. website in April.

The brand, which got its start as a land tour operator, launched its first river cruise product in 2009. Eight years later, Riviera sports 12 ships, five of them launched in just the past 15 months.