From Aug. 29 to Sept. 1, 40 travel advisors and representatives from 18 companies gathered at Hilton Playa Del Carmen in Mexico for the fourth annual Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, powered by TravelAge West.
Eighteen months ago, a gathering like this would not be unusual. However, coming off a year like 2020, any live event has become a cause for celebration — but especially so when it’s a retreat that highlights the bright future of the travel industry, and in particular, the emerging stars who are leading the way into a new age. The retreat, which is designed for travel professionals between the ages of 22 and 37, typically attracts highly motivated individuals looking to make lasting business connections and engage in meaningful self-reflection while participating in real-world professional development.
“I was concerned that we wouldn’t get as many applications this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jacqueline Hurst, director of trade recruitment and engagement for Northstar Travel Group Events, who handles recruitment for Future Leaders. “But the quality and number of applications that came in exceeded my expectations. I found that the enthusiasm for the event was even stronger than in past years.”
The quality and number of applications that came in exceeded my expectations. I found that the enthusiasm for the event was even stronger than in past years.
One thing a vast majority of this year’s travel advisor attendees had in common? They used the downtime provided by the pandemic to educate themselves, improve their businesses and even come up with ways to help the wider agent community.
“One thing I noticed about this group of advisors is they took the concept of pivoting — a word that has been terribly overused — and actually all did it,” Hurst said. “They used this time to learn from their mentors, go through product training and work on their websites. In some cases, people actually developed tools to help their agency or other agents. When reading through their applications, I realized that our industry is going to be fine.”
Here, we highlight a few standout travel advisor attendees of the 2021 Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, who have big plans for their futures — and are poised to make waves across the travel industry.
Samantha Collum, Director of Operations And Senior Travel Advisor, River Oaks Travel Concierge in Houston
Number of Years in the Travel Industry: 6 Years
Mentoring incoming travel advisors and coordinators is par for the course for Samantha Collum, a senior travel advisor who leads weekly meetings at River Oaks Travel Concierge in Houston to discuss the various aspects of marketing, sales and client management with her new-to-industry peers.
Samantha Collum of River Oaks Travel Concierge
Credit: 2021 Samantha Collum
And she’s definitely built up some serious street cred. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Collum sold $2.5 million in travel and, while still in her 20s, became a Conde Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist in 2021 and a Virtuoso Rising Star Nominee in 2019.
“I led the creation of our own River Oaks Travel Training & Mentorship Program, which provides one-on-one sessions focused around all aspects of travel planning, from the sales and booking process to business plan creation and marketing,” Collum said.
However, Collum believes it takes more than offering training programs and courses to be considered a “good mentor,” and that “the benefits of mentorship go both ways.”
“The biggest and most valuable trait you should look for in a mentor is someone who is willing to share their time — a good mentor should be available for everything from booking questions to brainstorming solutions for a tricky request,” she said. “We all know that there’s a literal world of information out there that cannot be covered in any one training course and is only learned through experience. With that in mind, I think that while it may take some time out of my day, I’d rather help new advisors avoid potential pitfalls and create the best experiences for their clients, rather than forcing them to figure everything out on their own.”
What’s Next for This Future Leader?
After the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Collum is turning her attention to social media marketing. But she’s also being intentional in helping the industry build back stronger and recover from the obstacles posed by COVID-19.
“It goes without saying that the last year and a half has been difficult for this industry, so it was a breath of fresh air to see so many young advisors and travel partners who are passionate and optimistic about the future of travel [at the Retreat],” she said. “While many conversations revolved around navigating COVID-19 restrictions and travel requirements, I also heard many great perspectives on how we should rebuild the industry to be even better than before the pandemic — think sustainable travel planning, more inclusivity in marketing and balancing the return of travel with combating overtourism.”
Ryan Doncsecz, Groups Manager for VIP Vacations Inc. in Bethlehem, Penn.
Number of Years in the Travel Industry: 11 years
Family-run VIP Vacations in Bethlehem, Penn., has been in operation for more than 25 years, and it’s where Ryan Doncsecz, son of agency founder Jennifer Doncsecz, manages and operates the company’s destination wedding groups.
Ryan Doncsecz of VIP Vacations Inc.
Credit: 2021 Ryan Doncsecz“Working in the family business certainly helped me ‘catch the travel bug,’” Doncsecz said. “From an early age, we traveled to Walt Disney World on a yearly basis, and as my siblings and I got older, our travel tastes evolved and we were lucky enough to see the world and have different cultural experiences. I’m a firm believer that there are few people who work harder than our president and founder — we’ll call her ‘Mom’ — and our CFO, Robert Deobil, who is my stepfather. Their leadership and effort in their day-to-day lives have pushed me to be the best I can be for my clients.”
And after 11 years in the travel industry, this Future Leader has racked up an impressive number of accolades, including being named one of the 30 top agents under the age of 30 by Travel Agent magazine.
What’s Next for This Future Leader?
“While I’ve been in the industry for 11 years and have started to create my own name among travel professionals, I feel I can still achieve much more to come through management training,” Doncsecz said.
He’s also seeking to cultivate deeper relationships with his business development managers (BDMs), a goal that was sparked at the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat.
“I am most thankful for the ability to pair one on one with suppliers and BDMs,” he said. “My knowledge base on certain destinations and brands grew, and having a good contact for these companies going forward is a wonderful tool. We have nice standing with many top all-inclusive brands and operators in the Caribbean and Mexico, but I don’t want that production level to go to our heads. Listening to Jermaine Humphrey of Playa Hotels and Resorts explain some of the difficulties he and other BDMs have faced over the last year was very eye-opening.”
Mallory Jones, Travel Advisor, You Deserve It! Vacations in Fort Worth, Texas
Number of Years in the Travel Industry: 4 years
A few years ago, Mallory Jones worked in the corporate world as an executive team leader of assets protection for Target, a role in which she investigated team members and clientele in shoplifting cases.
Now, this second-career travel advisor (who specializes in Hawaii, Jamaica and destination weddings at You Deserve It! Vacations) is still putting her investigative skills to work — albeit in a different way.
Mallory Jones of You Deserve It! Vacations
Credit: 2021 Mallory Jones“I loved my career with Target, but I knew there was something greater I was supposed to be doing,” she said. “Like many advisors, I have a strong love of travel, but it was more than that. I’m an investigator at heart, and I love finding the hidden gems in an area and designing an itinerary that people dream of. I’d like to credit my 19 years in the customer service industry for my people skills. It gave me the know-how and ability to instinctively anticipate the needs of my clients.”
And despite the challenges of the past year and a half, Jones said her greatest accomplishment has been reflecting on her business model and discovering “exactly who I am as a travel advisor,” which included getting firsthand experience about the destinations she sends clients to, completing certifications and “taking advantage of any opportunity to get on a plane and see a new property.”
What’s Next for This Future Leader?
Jones’ long-term goal for the future is running her own travel agency, along with a team of three to five other advisors, and continuing to grow her business while incorporating a membership structure for clients. But her next step will be a complete rebrand and marketing overhaul of You Deserve It! Vacations.
“Outside of owning my business, a major goal I set while at the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat was to rebrand and market our agency,” she said. “Amanda Overmyer (of Gifted Travel Network) had so many amazing tips and tricks to put our best foot forward as a brand. She stressed the importance of sending a cohesive message across all platforms, and I immediately came back and reached out to branding companies that can help us create a website that fully reflects who we are and the clientele that we want to attract.”
Antoine D. Wilson, Owner of A.D. Elite Travels, LLC, in Miami
Number of Years in the Travel Industry: 2 years
Antoine D. Wilson is a man on a travel mission: His goal is to share his passion for international travel with minority communities and young people, and encourage his clients to get their first passports and have the life-changing experiences that go along with being immersed in different cultures.
“In the minority community, a lot of people aren’t exposed to the world and feel travel is only within the U.S.,” Wilson said. “Some may not have the resources, and others just may not feel included.”
Antoine D. Wilson of A.D. Elite Travels, LLC
Credit: 2021 Antoine D. WilsonWilson says even his 21-year-old brother had this same point of view.
“I forced him to get his first passport, and in March, he joined me on his first international trip to Dubai,” Wilson said. “Seeing the joy and excitement on his face, watching him try new foods and learn valuable lessons from his mistakes, meant the world to me. He returned home a changed man because of travel. If I can have this same effect throughout the minority community, it would mean a lot to me.”
What’s Next for This Future Leader?
Wilson is working toward his impressive goals by creating exciting packages that minority communities would enjoy in destinations they can relate to.
“Many minorities have a fear of international travel, so the majority of these packages will be done in a group setting, to make them feel comfortable and at ease,” Wilson said. “My marketing material will also be very diverse and appealing, to ensure everyone feels included and welcome to join.”
Based on advice received from Jessica Pressler of Blissful Honeymoons — another travel advisor at the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat — those marketing efforts will also include another important element moving forward: himself.
“Her advice to me was to include myself more when posting on social media,” Wilson said. “I can get stuck in the educational aspect of highlighting different destinations for clients, but as she mentioned during the breakout session, clients connect with people and personalities. That’s what gets them excited.”
Anna Harrison, Owner and Travel Advisor at Travel Observations, an Independent Affiliate Of Gifted Travel Network, in Pittsburgh
Number of Years in the Travel Industry: 10 years
When Anna Harrison shares a bit of her life story, it starts to sound like was destined to work in the travel industry: She’s the daughter of a diplomat, speaks multiple languages, has taught English overseas, worked in West Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer and spent multiple years in international higher education focused on promoting global exchange.
“I know what I bring to the table as an expert and an advocate for my clients,” she said.
Anna Harrison of Travel Observations
Credit: 2021 Anna HarrisonThat confidence has already helped Harrison accomplish many of her goals, as well as weather the storm that was 2020 — and come through it stronger than ever.
“Recently, I looked at a vision board I created a few years ago, when I wasn’t sure where my business was taking me and everything on that board came true, despite this past year,” Harrison said. “From living abroad to being in control of my income and being my own boss, it all happened. And although 2020 was a wild ride, my business has more clarity now than ever before.”
Harrison says her clients are now requesting the types of trips she loves to plan. She’s met wonderful clients and supplier partners, and she has been quoted in both The New York Times and The Washington Post.
“I’m surrounding myself with positive and inspiring role models in the industry,” she said. “I’m exactly where I’m meant to be right now.”
What’s Next for This Future Leader?
Harrison says she is planning to further hone in on the specifics of her business.
“As a result of this event, I’m excited to redesign my client onboarding and acquisition process,” she said. “I [plan to] follow a consistent workflow and make sure all my clients are receiving the same messaging, such as by asking clients to fill out online preference forms during the trip design process and letting them know up front what types of services I provide, so clients understand my role and my fee models.”
Refining her client list and workflow is a small step in her ultimate business goal of designing small-group tours that push travelers past capital cities and help them engage with local cultures off the beaten path.
“It’s surprisingly hard to find small-group tours that are geared toward experienced travelers who want to go more off the beaten path,” Harrison said. “I think designing trips for ‘second time around’ travelers would be an exciting component of my business.”
The Details
The Future Leaders in Travel Retreat
