Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - (Page 66) 30 UNDER 30 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 64 Erin Koutsoubis, 29 VIP Vacations Inc., Whitehall, PA After graduating high school, Koutsoubis moved to the Jersey Shore, where she spent three years as a paralegal before taking a vacation to Jamaica using VIP Vacations Inc. “That vacation changed my life,” she remembers, “because I realized that travel was the career for me.” In 2003, she started working at VIP Vacations as a homebased agent, and is now a Preferred Sandals Specialist, Couples Specialist, Destination Wedding Specialist and a Gold Sandals Agent. Jennifer Doncsecz, president of VIP Vacations, remembers that Koutsoubis began selling honeymoons and romantic vacations only after she took courses, visited popular resorts and got certified so that she could market not only her skill, but also her expertise. Doncsecz says, “Erin is living proof that travel agents are not a dying breed.” Erin Koutsoubis David Holyoke, vice president of business development for Tzell, has been impressed with Ismaeil’s ambition. “He knows the world and its intricacies, which he translates well to his clients,” Holyoke says. Julia Kostenko Donnie Brummer, 26 World Travel Holdings, Woburn, MA Brummer studied business administration and enjoys the challenges of the travel industry. “A married couple I was working with had visited 49 out of the 50 states,” he recalls, “and wanted to finish up the states by visiting Hawaii.” The problem was that they didn’t fly. Instead, Brummer got them on a cruise to Hawaii, fulfilling the couple’s dream. Brummer sold $1.5 million in sales in 2006, and has been in the Navigators Club for sales excellence ever since. Jeff Smith, vice president of sales, remembers that Brummer “came to work for us in the fall of 2005 with absolutely no experience in the travel industry. What he brought to us was an infectious enthusiasm, a love of travel and a passion for service. Since then, Donnie has continued to improve his sales performance each year while expanding his base of loyal clients.” Donnie Brummer Will Ismaeil, 29 Windward Travel/Tzell Travel Group Red Bank, NJ Ismaeil was born in Cairo and arrived in the U.S. at the age of eight. He earned his B.S. in industrial and manufacturing engineering with a minor in business administration, and became a project manager for an architectural firm. After a few years, he realized he wanted to get into an industry where he could utilize his sales skills. He purchased Windward Travel, a branch office of Tzell Travel Group, in June 2005. “One of the many contributing factors for our success in the industry is our alliance with one of the most successful travel agencies in the states,” he says. Will Ismaeil Julia Kostenko, 28 WRR Travel Partners (a subsidiary of Altour Travel), New York Kostenko came to New York at 17 to study travel. After college, an internship at Sunexpress Travel, a small agency in New York, gave her a start in the industry, and her first paying job in travel was at Linden Travel. Her clients include corporate and leisure travelers, multigenerational families, honeymooning couples and high-powered CEOs. Most recently, she helped create a three-week honeymoon to India and Bhutan. She is a Master Orient Express Bellini Ambassador. “What I love about being a consultant,” she says, “is creating a tailor-made trip for my client, and being a part of their special planning experience.” Anna Rueda de Leon, a partner at WRR, remembers that the team gave Kostenko a chance despite her limited experience because “she was so enthusiastic and willing to do anything to get her first break. Julia has earnestly devoted her time to learning about destinations, properties and what it takes to make each client’s experience special.” 66 | TravelAgent November 24, 2008
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 Reality Check On the Web Contents Advertising Index Contributors From the Editor From the Publisher Europe Pacific/Asia Las Vegas Mexico Caribbean Cruises Cover Story: 30 Under 30 Leaders in Luxury Hotels Agenda Luxury Travel Expo Hurricane Temporarily Shutters Nevis Four Seasons Agents, Cruise Lines Adapt to Economy A New Link to Adventure Travel In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - (Page CW1) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - (Page CW2) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 (Page Cover1) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 (Page Cover2) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 (Page 1) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 (Page 2) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 (Page 3) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Reality Check (Page 4) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Reality Check (Page 5) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - On the Web (Page 6) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - On the Web (Page 7) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Contents (Page 8) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Advertising Index (Page 9) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Advertising Index (Page 10) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Advertising Index (Page 11) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Contributors (Page 12) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Contributors (Page 13) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 14) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 15) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - From the Publisher (Page 16) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - From the Publisher (Page 17) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - From the Publisher (Page 18) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - From the Publisher (Page 19) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - From the Publisher (Page 20) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - From the Publisher (Page 21) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - From the Publisher (Page 22) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - From the Publisher (Page 23) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Europe (Page 24) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Europe (Page 25) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Europe (Page 26) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Europe (Page 27) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Europe (Page 28) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Europe (Page 29) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 30) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 31) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 32) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 33) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 34) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 35) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 36) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 37) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Mexico (Page 38) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Mexico (Page 39) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Mexico (Page 40) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Mexico (Page 41) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Mexico (Page 42) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Caribbean (Page 43) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Caribbean (Page 44) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Caribbean (Page 45) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Caribbean (Page 46) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Caribbean (Page 47) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cruises (Page 48) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cruises (Page 49) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cruises (Page 50) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cruises (Page 51) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cruises (Page 52) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cruises (Page 53) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 54) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 55) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 56) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 57) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 58) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 59) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 60) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 61) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 62) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 63) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 64) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 65) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 66) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 67) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Leaders in Luxury (Page 68) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Leaders in Luxury (Page 69) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Leaders in Luxury (Page 70) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Leaders in Luxury (Page 71) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Leaders in Luxury (Page 72) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Leaders in Luxury (Page 73) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Leaders in Luxury (Page 74) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Leaders in Luxury (Page 75) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Leaders in Luxury (Page 76) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Leaders in Luxury (Page 77) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Hotels (Page 78) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Hotels (Page 79) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Hotels (Page 80) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Hotels (Page 81) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Hotels (Page 82) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Hotels (Page 83) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Agenda (Page 84) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Agenda (Page 85) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Luxury Travel Expo (Page 86) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Luxury Travel Expo (Page 87) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Hurricane Temporarily Shutters Nevis Four Seasons (Page 88) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Hurricane Temporarily Shutters Nevis Four Seasons (Page 89) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Agents, Cruise Lines Adapt to Economy (Page 90) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Agents, Cruise Lines Adapt to Economy (Page 91) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - A New Link to Adventure Travel (Page 92) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - A New Link to Adventure Travel (Page 93) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - In the Spotlight (Page 94) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - In the Spotlight (Page 95) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Editorial Index (Page 96) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Editorial Index (Page 97) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Advertising Index (Page 98) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Advertising Index (Page CW3) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Advertising Index (Page CW4)
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