Luxury Travel Advisor - October 2008 - (Page 49)

COASTLINE TRAVEL ADVISORS’ RISING STARS Kate Mulder, director of sales and marenergy to this industry, a fresh set of lately was a world cruise. “What is better keting for Coastline Travel Advisors, eyes and an ability to think outside the than that?” she asks. formerly worked as a senior sales repbox in regard to the future of the indusThis young agent’s client list tends to resentative, business analyst and sales try. The needs of travelers will continue be adventure seekers who like off-thetrainer in the pharmaceutical industry to become more complex and agents beaten-track experiences. “They like to before joining the agency. A former will need to be as knowledgeable and travel ‘outside the box,’” she says. biology major, her areas of specialty resourceful as possible. Travelers are “I love being a travel agent. included gastroenterology and neurosciincreasingly becoming global citizens and Sometimes I have to pinch myself that I ences in the Los Angeles and Beverly [being a travel advisor] is more than just get to do what I love. Everyone should be Hills territories. During that time, she providing a great vacation, but opening so lucky, she says. ” also researched sustainable travel. At eyes and helping others see the world the agency, she works in the area of and cultures in a different light. ” Caitlin Murphy is a travel consultant Business Development and also asfor Coastline Travel Advisors. Her duties sists as a liaison for the agents in regard Vanessa Sawtell-Jones is Coastline include selling luxury travel products to to management, training and travel Travel Advisor’s manager of sales and consumers; handling customer orders knowledge. marketing. Because both of her parents and payments; liaising with tour opera“What I love best about selling travel have worked in the travel industry for tors, hotels, airlines and other key partis matching the needs ners to coordinate reservato my clients, she tells ” tions and schedules; advising Luxury Travel Advisor. “I clients about vital travel doculove finding the right activmentation and procedures; ity, destination or hotel that and customer service. fits their personality, that Murphy graduated from they never knew existed. Virginia Tech with a B.A When you can really bring in Business and a focus something to the table that on Hospitality/Tourism the client was not aware Management and Leadership of, and they tell you it’s Studies. Prior to joining perfect for them, it is very Coastline Travel, she worked rewarding. ” for Worldstrides, an educaWorking in an industry tional student travel company. that has such an interna“The best part about selltional scope also holds ing travel is that I get to disTHE YOUTH WAVE: Vanessa Sawtell-Jones, Leah Smith, Jay Johnson, Caitlin Murphy and Kate Mulder appeal for Mulder, who cuss exotic destinations, and recently assisted a client it gives me the opportunity to in finding the right local immersion tour more than 30 years (her father is Terry meet new people and continue to learn in the townships of South Africa. “I love Jones, chairman of Kayak.com), Sawtellsomething new every day about a topic I knowing that using specific responsible Jones saw this profession as a natural am most passionate about, she says. ” travel companies can make an impact on choice. Her original plan was to enjoy “The most interesting travel I’ve sold local economies, she says. “By sending ” a career as an opera singer, but after is a month-long trip to South America, my clients through these companies, I traveling around the world for a year, which included Easter Island, Santiago, a am positively impacting the socioecoshe changed her mind. “My experiences four-day cruise to Ushuaia, staying at the nomic structure of the destination. ” abroad gave me an education I didn’t fabulous Explora Lodges, and finishing up Mulder’s client list has been culled even know I was getting. Going into in Buenos Aires. from the relationships she formed in her travel was such an easy and natural step ”Being a travel agent is a great startprior career; most reside in the Beverly for me, she says. ” ing point [for] getting into the industry, ” Hills/Los Angeles area. Agency owner What’s best about being a travel says Murphy. “You learn all aspects Jay Johnson also matches up new clients advisor? “Having clients return from a of the business by having access to a that correspond to the areas of the world fabulous trip and telling me that my recvariety of products and services. Working Mulder has traveled to. ommendations were correct is the best directly with the client also provides you How does this young agent feel kind of validation, she says. ” with a better understanding of the target about her profession? “I feel I bring an Sawtell-Jones’ most interesting sale market. ” October 2008 | LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR www.luxuryta.com 49 http://www.Kayak.com http://www.luxuryta.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Luxury Travel Advisor - October 2008

Luxury Travel Advisor - October 2008 Contents Publisher's Letter Editor's Letter Glasgow Greece & Cyprus Private Islands Park Hotel Weggis Mexico Private Yachts MS Europa Coastline Travel Awards of Excellence The Pulse Just Back Luxury Travel Expo Sightings Source List

Luxury Travel Advisor - October 2008

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