Luxury Travel Advisor - December 2007 - (Page 6) EDITOR'S LETTER The Best, From the Best ’ve been reflecting on some of the great conversations that I’ve had with the luxury travel advisors who have graced the covers of this magazine over the past year. In each instance I’ve been enriched by the wisdom and humanity that each of our subjects has shared with me. Now that the year is coming to an end, I’d like to report back to you what I’ve learned from each. Barbara Gallay, Linden Travel Bureau: “If you want to be treated nicely, you have to treat people nicely.” Gallay is well respected by her colleagues and luxury suppliers throughout the world for the strength of character she exhibits when conducting business. Peter Carideo, CRC Travel: Have fun while being professional. Carideo is known for his keen wit but runs a tight ship when it comes to selling luxury travel. Malaka Hilton, Admiral Travel Gallery: Forge strategic relationships that will broaden your client roster. Hilton works with well-known partners, such as Salvatore Ferragamo, to create unique travel experiences that attract even the most sophisticated “been there, done that” client. Jack Bloch, JB’s World Travel Consultants: Make it a family affair. Bloch, his wife and their two daughters have traveled the world together several times over. Use your travel opportunities to enhance your business and your children’s future. Maureen Jones, All Horizons Travel: Learn the world. When Jones switched from being a I Each of the luxury travel advisors that we’ve profiled has many outstanding characteristics that contribute to their success. Silicon Valley executive to a travel agency owner, she became a destination specialist for 39 countries. Today, she shares her knowledge with the up-andcoming travel agents of the world by teaching college courses and speaking at seminars at every opportunity. Anne Morgan Scully, McCabe World Travel: Be a mentor. Scully is well known for her passion in bringing along the next generation of travel agents. She knows how to spot a star in fledgling mode and give her the wings to fly on her own. She is another of the great educators of the industry. Wido Schaefer, TravelStore: Give back to your employees. Schaefer has created an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) that enables his salaried employees to reap the profits of the company. Sho Dozano, Azumano Travel: Give back to the world. Few can match Dozano’s humanitarian efforts. He has supported destinations in their worst moments by showing the world how travel has the potential be the greatest healer of all. Bob Romano, Fugazi Travel: Find a mentor and rise. When Romano, who graces our cover this month, started his career as a travel agent, he learned everything he could from Fugazi’s owner, George Lippi. Today, Romano is a partner in the firm. How fortunate I’ve been this year to spend quality time with such an outstanding group of luxury travel advisors. I look forward to meeting more of you in 2008. By the way, I’m pictured here at World Travel Market in London with Tania Garcia and Sofia Brandao of Aquapura, Douro Valley, a hotel that has just opened in Portugal’s wine region. For more on this fascinating property, see page 65. RUTHANNE TERRERO, CTC Editorial Director rterrero@questex.com 6 LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR | December 2007
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