Bad Gleichenberg Tourism School, one of Europe’s top hospitality programs, awards Windstar Cruises President Christopher Prelog ‘Styrian Tourism Panther’
Windstar Cruises President Christopher Prelog received the Styrian Tourism Panther Award for International Achievement on October 17, 2024. The Austrian award, which is the Styrian region’s highest tourism honor, is in its sixth year and is bestowed by the Bad Gleichenberg Tourism School to honor designers, visionaries, and pioneers of tourism for their success in the hospitality industry. The Panther Awards were chosen by a jury of top tourism professionals including educators, hoteliers/restaurateurs, and former award winners and were presented during a gala celebration this evening.
We selected Christopher Prelog as our top winner in the international category due to hisimpressive career,” said Dr. Gerhard Kienzl, managing director of the Styrian Hotel Management School Association. “Chris is a wonderful role model for our young tourism professionals, and we are proud of his achievements throughout the hospitality industry and the impacts he has made both at home – and especially abroad – with Windstar’s highly regarded global presence.”
Prelog grew up in Austria in the city of Graz and was encouraged by his parents to attend the Bad Gleichenberg Tourism School, which is known as one of the most prestigious hospitality management schools in Europe. Prelog attended the school’s intensive five- year program which focused not only on service and cooking but also on finances, marketing, and the larger business of hospitality. Prelog worked in several hotels in Austria before pivoting to the cruise industry; his first job was head waiter aboard Seabourn Legend – now Windstar’s own Star Legend. He nearly quit following a difficult beginning including seasickness, but adapted to and embraced the industry, steadily rising through the ranks thanks to his ability to drive efficiencies while staying focused on what makes a successful crew and cruise.
Left to right Philip Borckenstein-Quirini, Eruption wine representative, Governor of Styria Christopher Drexler, Christopher Prelog, Florian Prelog (Christopher’s brother) and Hotel School Director Peter Kospach
Prelog joined Windstar in 2016 as vice president of fleet operations and was promoted in 2020 to president. His tenure has been anything but ordinary, for operations in 2021 to debuting three completely reimagined ships by 2022 (via what isrom relaunching the fleet’s regarded as the most complex refurbishment and expansion project in the industry), along with moving the line’s headquarters from Seattle to cruise-centric Miami and recentlyannouncing the addition of two new ships.
“I am so thrilled and honored to receive an award from my alma mater amongst so many successful graduates and Styrian tourism greats. It means so much to me to return and celebrate the many successes of Styrian hospitality and to hopefully inspire other students and recent graduates that there are countless opportunities available to them in our wonderfully dynamic industry,” said Prelog.
Prelog is joined by three other 2024 Styrian Tourism Panther Award Winners: ● Lifetime Achievement: former curator Dr. Peter Florian
- ● Innovation: Hotel Schwaigerhof Rohrmoos Gottlieb Stocker
- ● Tourism Family: Anna + Markus Sattler, Sattlerhof
This award marks the second major accolade for Prelog in several months, as he wasrecently awarded the 2024 Excellence in Leadership Award by TravelAge West due to his creative, caring, and visionary leadership.
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