With both a bachelor s and master s degree in International Studies , Allen is well-suited to tackle

When we started the 30 Under 30 in 2008, (see winners from 2008 and 2009 ) it was partly in response to criticism that travel agents were losing their relevance in an online world. And now in 2010, the one thing everyone on our list brings to the table is a grasp of the online universe, from social air ticket price media to marketing to education and more. They re ready to take on the world one trip at a time
After studying English and print journalism at Morgan State University , Adams changed course and earned a degree from the Bennett School of Travel in Ellicott , MD . She launched her own company, in the Travel Planners International network.
She is a Certified Travel Associate as well as a Certified Destination Specialist ( Mexico and the Caribbean ), specializing in selling honeymoons and leisure vacations. All of that networking both on-and online has paid off for Adams clients such as Aja Jackson , who wrote that Adams arranged all of the details for our honeymoon so that I would not have to think about them during my wedding planning. She made recommendations for everything from hotel stays to activities to help make our vacation the trip of a lifetime.
I m constantly air ticket price networking and forwarding weekly travel promotions via my contact list, says Adams. I keep things interesting and current through my travel blog, which features information about destinations, new travel technology, news alerts, the latest trends in resortwear and so on.
Although she is still relatively air ticket price new to the industry, Alexander has already secured a diverse clientele, including newlyweds, Fortune 500 CEOs and even her roommate. Her travels have taken her across the United States and Alaska and down to St. Thomas , St. Maarten and the Bahamas .
Kristen is a very valuable and important member of the team, says David Rubin of DavidTravel . She has learned very quickly and continues to expand her knowledge on a daily basis. Her product knowledge is excellent and she has excelled at putting together complex, air ticket price customized FIT s. Kristen communicates effectively with clients and demonstrates great patience. She is good at getting to know each client and creating a memorable experience for them.
With both a bachelor s and master s degree in International Studies , Allen is well-suited to tackle the travel industry. She pursued international relations for a while, but that led to her true calling selling travel. air ticket price One of her roles is to sell to young clients who are unfamiliar with how an agency works.
Laura is the brightest light for Trips in the Village , says Russell Glasheen , owner of Trips in the Village. air ticket price She is bringing us into the 21st century with Facebook , a website and upgraded computers and has been able to use her travel air ticket price knowledge and superior customer service air ticket price to develop strong client relationships. She is diligent about online training and attending seminars, and shares her knowledge and enthusiasm with the rest of the office. air ticket price She is well on her way to being a leader in the next generation of travel professionals.
With no technical experience in the travel industry, getting into the business was a challenge for Allen. But luckily for her, and her clients, she was able to convince employers that she could be an asset and has been able to position herself as the next generation of agents.
Baldwin s love for the travel industry began when she worked as an executive assistant at an aviation firm, which spawned such an intense fascination with expeditions and excursions that she immediately gained her associates in Travel and Tourism and a bachelors in Science Hospitality Management .
My passion for the industry air ticket price is brought out by my customized itineraries, attention to detail and eagerness to create a lifetime experience, air ticket price Baldwin says. Being a young individual in this industry takes more than having traveled all over the world; it s about being involved in all aspects such as social media, online product training, networking with clients, and marketing.
Baldwin recently toured the Caribbean, Riviera Maya and Turks and Caicos , expanding her expertise in honeymoon and destination weddings as well as the offerings of Princess Cruises , Royal Cruise air ticket price and Sandals .
Emily brought with her a passion for the industry and the drive to be the best she can be, says Dee Topor , president of Platinum Travel . With her certification as a honeymoon and destination wedding specialist and [having] married just last year, she has a true understanding of what it takes to plan the perfect honeymoon. Emily s sales have more than doubled air ticket price in her time with Platinum Travel and she has embraced our membership in Virtuoso as a provider of luxury travel.
Batts graduated with a degree in Graphics from North Carolina State , and then took a position in a new field that she found intriguing: travel. In the time that I have been with Travel Leaders , I have learned so much about the world, she says. I love being able to share what I know with my clients and watch their excitement grow along with mine...my clients are leisure travelers, who are adventurous. Recently, I was lucky enough to visit the breathtaking air ticket price country of Ecuador . I still am eager to get to work every morning and often find it difficult to pull myself away in the afternoon.
Mark Seagle , owner of Travel Leaders branch in Raleigh , says despite Jennifer s lack of experience, her strong and sincere desire to get into the business made her an appealing addition to the team. In just a short period of time, Jennifer has become proficient in using our GDS system, is a few days away from becoming air ticket price a Travel Leaders air ticket price Certified Travel Specialist and has received testimonials about her service and professionalism. Agents like Jennifer are the future of our business.
In a difficult economy, Batts and the Travel Leaders team have redoubled their efforts. We have worked hard to stay in touch with our current clients, looked for additional corporate business, and are constantly looking for agencies to merge with or acquire, she says. All of these tasks have been made easier with the help of Travel Leaders. They are e-mailing specials to all our clients on a weekly basis; we mail out over 2,000 Post Car d magazines each quarter, and send targeted direct mail three or four times a month. Travel Leaders has a special task force to help us with adding corporate accounts and for acquiring existing agencies.
Coleman says his love for travel stemmed from road trips with his family in his youth. He soon coupled this passion with an interest in geography and history, which evolved into a full-fledged career as a travel expert.
Travel is Coleman s bread and butter and his clientele includes CEOs, backpackers, celebrities, and sports teams. My favorite sale was a round-the-world booking for a doctor on sabbatical visiting every continent in three months, Coleman recalls.
A graduate of Occidental air ticket price College who is currently rated as one of American Express top sellers across the Cruise and Tour network, Coleman has visited over 20 countries on five continents, and counts South Africa , Fiji , Switzerland air ticket price and Thailand among his favorites.
Noel is one of our newest hires and I am constantly amazed at how well-traveled he is, says Lisa Gutierrez , his team leader. Listening to calls, he is so engaged and has already had several clients say he is the reason they keep booking travel. Noel always takes an extra step with his clients and takes the time to call back after travels to make sure everything about their trip was positive. If I needed to book travel, Noel would be the specialist I would go to because he knows so much. He even spends his lunch break reading about new destinations!
Do studied business and marketing and closed a lot of real estate and mortgage transactions before turning to the travel industry. I love being a travel agent, he says. If I [had] known, I would have started in travel instead of real estate! Do was the first to sell $2 million in commissionable sales in his company, all in the first eight months of this year. The most interesting trips he sells, he says, are world cruises. The clients get to travel for about three months and visit many countries and a few continents on one vacation. His clients, Do says, are diverse: They re from all ends of the earth and all walks of life, thanks to the Internet.
Hope Prado , director of Vacations to Go , says the qualities of a consummate travel agent should include diligence, integrity, wisdom and a servant s heart. All of these summed up in one agent equals excellence, she says. These are the qualities air ticket price that encompass Nam Do. I know many types of travel agents from the young and inexperienced to the seasoned and cynical but no one stands out in this crowd like Nam does.
Do feels he distinguishes himself by taking great care of his clients. They all know how much I appreciate their business through air ticket price my customer service and acts of kindness, he says. I attribute much of my success to repeat and referral air ticket price business. While most of my peers and competitors are either struggling air ticket price or working super hard to stay afloat, I can thank all my past guests for helping me sell travel. I have a very strong sales force, past clients who continue to use my services and recommend them to friends, family, co-workers and anyone else they know.
Ebrahemi began her career in philanthropy alongside Lucy and Leigh Steinberg , starting a nonprofit air ticket price dedicated to broadening teenagers minds with awareness of local and global issues. This endeavor was soon followed up with the launch of a documentary production company, which filmed in Third World countries.
My educational films have been shown at film festivals, on PBS , featured in newspapers and won awards. Having visited 20 countries, I started a travel air ticket price company and currently write a monthly travel column that focuses air ticket price on everything from luxury to adventure experiences.
air ticket price Social networking sites are also great ways to promote travel specials, she says. You have to b