Tauni Alltop is not only the owner of Smart Price Travel she is also Ja-Ke s mother. Even with a mot

After the success of last year s inaugural 30 Under 30 report , Travel Agent once again sought to highlight some of the brightest young travel agents bringing the industry into the future. Some of them are second-generation travel advisors. cruising world classic plastic Some own their companies. But the common unique quality among all is that they are industrious hard workers who are keeping the industry vibrant and dynamic with fresh ideas and strong ambition.
Acosta began her travel cruising world classic plastic experience as a part-time data-entry clerk at Royal Caribbbean s headquarters office in the Port of Miami . After two years, she sought full-time employment and was offered the Group Coordinator position, and then spent three years at Carnival Cruise Lines as a Personal cruising world classic plastic Vacation cruising world classic plastic Planner. I gained great knowledge at this position, but there was still something missing, cruising world classic plastic she says. She earned her BA in Business Administration and finally opened her own home-based travel agency. I began part-time, cruising world classic plastic working from a small desk in my bedroom, mainly working with friends and family members. After her client base grew to over 700 clients (many of whom were client referrals), she leased office space from a corporate building close to home.
Knowledge is power, and I love speaking to my clients from firsthand experience, she says. People save up all year for that one-week cruising world classic plastic getaway cruising world classic plastic to escape reality I love to make that happen for them. I truly have a passion for what I do and I live by this saying: Do what you love and you will not work a single day in your life. I feel like I retired already!
Ja-Ke Alltop s arrival to the travel cruising world classic plastic industry was, in her own words, a bit unorthodox. She studied acting and film production, and went to work for her mother s agency when she needed a job during off months from working in film. She started working on group travel with the agency, and received her ACC Certification from CLIA . In a short time, I was in charge of the client relations for our largest group, she says. We sail over 700 hairstylists on an annual cruise and, of course, we get to escort the group! What I love the most about this group is that we are giving them a chance at a new experience in life. Being based out of Texas, we are dealing with clients who have never left their farm, so to speak, and we are taking them to exotic locations in the Caribbean.
Tauni Alltop is not only the owner of Smart Price Travel she is also Ja-Ke s mother. Even with a mother s love, Tauni was surprised at how vital her daughter cruising world classic plastic became cruising world classic plastic to the business. She jumped right in with fresh ideas and a clear, objective cruising world classic plastic perspective on the way business needed to be done, she recalls. Not only does Ja-Ke have great client relationship skills, but she is also a very creative mind and a think outside of the box kind of person. Although Ja-Ke now works in a different cruising world classic plastic state, she is still an independent contractor and outside agent for the company.
Breaux graduated from the University of Louisiana with plans to get his PhD in Sociology and teach at a university. But fate intervened, and three-and-a-half years ago, he started working with TravelCorp as a travel coordinator specializing in meetings and incentive groups.
It is my job to ensure that [clients] have memorable moments whether they are shopping in Paris , scuba diving in Grand Cayman or trekking through the rainforest of Costa Rica , Breaux says. One of the most rewarding aspects of this career is having cruising world classic plastic a repeat client have complete trust that I will turn their company s event (and investment) into a week that they will remember for a lifetime.
The art of travel planning has grown from a spark to a full blaze, he continues. Every step of the planning process excites me and makes me want to work harder, learn more and breathe cruising world classic plastic new life into this wonderful industry.
Joe Casciola , manager of leisure and groups and incentives, calls Breaux a shining star, and says that the young agent is like a magician cruising world classic plastic producing proposals well received by clients, understanding cruising world classic plastic pricing, cruising world classic plastic carrying out the operation on-site at an event and stepping in regularly to meet and exceed our client expectations.
After earning her degree in International Business, Brower began entertaining cruising world classic plastic various career options. I got a taste of the travel business as an intern for a tour organization but I wanted more, she recalls. I found an entry-level position with American Express Travel as an assistant to two top-selling agents, and learned many aspects of the industry. This experience propelled her to her current position as a Platinum Travel Agent for American Express. I enjoy creating cruising world classic plastic interesting and complex, high-end itineraries for my clients, but the best part is helping make memories, from children s birthday parties to 25th wedding anniversaries. I am there for it all.
Diane Reposa , regional manager for American Express Travel, calls Brower cruising world classic plastic wise beyond cruising world classic plastic her years, and praises her wealth of product and destination cruising world classic plastic knowledge. She works in a call-center environment with many productivity metrics. cruising world classic plastic One could be an order taker, but not Katie. She learned very early how to balance excellent customer service and sales, creating a strong repeat following. Brower gets it, Reposa says, adding, Treat your clients cruising world classic plastic with extraordinary care and they will come back and even better, they will tell their friends. Katie is currently ranked number one in her peer group on both customer service and sales.
Cowick s interest in travel started while attending school at the American Academy cruising world classic plastic of Dramatic cruising world classic plastic Arts , which had many international students. It was wonderful to get to know these great people from places like Greece , Sweden and South Africa . While in school, I began working for America Online s Travel Message Boards . Working as a message cruising world classic plastic board manager for Peru , Argentina as well as New York City and a trip to Europe soon after cemented my love for travel. When I came home, something just clicked and I knew I wanted to be a travel agent.
Being a travel agent has allowed me to help people experience the world as they truly want to see it, she says. The best part is being able to take a client s kernel cruising world classic plastic of an idea and turn it into a full-fledged dream vacation for them. Most of my clients are savvy, culturally aware travelers who want to experience what s hot in travel right now. She is a Las Vegas Specialist, a Thailand Golden Agent Specialist and a South African Fundi Specialist.
Flor Mota , team leader for Liberty Travel, praises Cowick s determination and desire to learn and succeed. She takes on the travel cruising world classic plastic requests of all her clients with diligence and enthusiasm cruising world classic plastic and sees them through, from start to finish. Her clients enjoy her friendly demeanor and appreciate the creative, personal touch she puts on their trips.
Dillberg cruising world classic plastic says that it was always cruising world classic plastic a dream of hers to be in the travel industry. She was hired right out of Hesser College with a two-year associate degree in Travel and Tourism with a Business emphasis. She has been with Garber Travel as a Travel Consultant cruising world classic plastic for more than seven years, specializing in Family Vacations, Cruises and Honeymoon Destination Weddings. Taking into consideration all the changes in the travel industry as a whole and the economic environment, I still love my job and I continue to be successful, she says. This is my third year surpassing my company-set sales goals.
Carolina M. Murillo , leisure district manager cruising world classic plastic at Garber, jokes that Dillberg, as the youngest member of the group, cruising world classic plastic keeps the veterans on their toes. She keeps updated on the latest cruising world classic plastic technology, travel products, informed on promotions, and never stops learning The best attribute she brings cruising world classic plastic to her clients is that she has an innate sense to really listen to what they really want, and delivers with the proven preferreds she can depend cruising world classic plastic on with our Ensemble affiliation. She is a perfect example of what the young can do to a travel organization that has been around for over 62 years.
Distler grew up with a passion for travel, and after graduating with a double major in Business Management and Hospitality from Florida State University cruising world classic plastic , he was trained by Admiral Travel s owners Ryan and Malaka Hilton , both highly regarded specialists cruising world classic plastic for Egypt and Africa , respectively.
In this economy, cruising world classic plastic many transaction-based agencies have been forced to close their doors, and it is the innovative agents/advisors/specialists that are not only surviving but thriving, Distler says. It s wonderful to be among the innovative cruising world classic plastic that are privileged cruising world classic plastic enough to provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences that shape how our travelers view the world around us.
I love that no two experiences cruising world classic plastic are ever the same, he says about his business. With so many options available in the marketplace, it is extremely cruising world classic plastic important to remain knowledgeable and pair each guest with the appropriate itinerary, property selections and wow factors that best suit their needs.
Malaka Hilton, CEO of Admiral cruising world classic plastic Travel International, says that the company depends upon Distler for a wide range of necessities, from training independent contractors to marketing efforts and IT development and maintenance. We know he can and will get the job done well When I see some of our industry veterans asking Michael (the youngest member of our team) for input and advice, I know we are on the right track, and helping bring the next generation into the industry.
When Dobson was 14, she traveled as a People-to-People Student Ambassador for three weeks throughout Ireland and the British Isles . She graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Cultural Anthropology and Journalism and, in her own mind, a third in Voluntourism. She studied abroad four times and led five Alternative Spring Break volunteer trips during her time in college. When it came down to it, my college experience was more about the multiple travel experiences in terms of shaping me as a person, she says.
Dobson says that she is delighted by the recent popularity of volunteer tourism. In a world where clients, tourists an