Millennial Travel Forum Los Angeles: Meet the Agents Attending
With less than a week away, TravelPulse reveals the names of the 14 agents who will be traveling to Los Angeles for the United States debut of travAlliancemedia's Millennial Travel Forum. To follow their journey, we have included a short bio of each travel advisor and their social media handles.
Four Seasons and Costco Direct-Booking Efforts Irk Travel Advisors
Top 30 Luxury Travel Youtube Channels To Follow
Travel Agents: Legalizing Marijuana in Mexico Is a Smart Idea
What Agents are Saying About the Latest ALG, Mark Travel Merger Effects
Live on #BellaTV with Norwegian Cruise Lines and Bella Magazine.
Travel Agent Takes on Costco Travel at Its Own Game
Travel Advisors Sound Off on Trump’s Reported Plans to Reverse Cuba Policies
Luxury Residential Projects Now Offer Everything Hotels Do… and Sometimes More
Biz Travel Agency Finds Big Success In Leisure
Biz Travel Agency Finds Big Success In Leisure
Photo: First in Service Travel/Facebook
Biz Travel Agency Finds Big Success In Leisure
by Richard D'Ambrosio / October 25, 2016
New York-based First in Service Travel (F1S) knows that for its corporate customers, all work and no play isn't good for anyone. That's why the travel management company this month is adding a cruise desk to its growing multimillion dollar leisure travel business, broadening its mix of services to meet the needs of a successful corporate trade.
For 25 years, First in Service has been managing business travel for a high-profile international clientele in finance, luxury goods, entertainment, media and technology. About four years ago, the company realized that although it was regularly booking vacations for its clients, it didn't really have the expertise or dedicated staff to target leisure sales to that base.
'Our luxury leisure division was an organic extension of our corporate and entertainment offerings,' said F1S CEO and co-founder Fernando Gonzalez. 'We work with so many high-profile executives, entertainers and models, who didn't realize we could handle all of their travel needs-regardless of whether it was a world tour or a private island getaway. Once we made the division official, it took off.'
Today, the leisure division has 15 dedicated full-time agents. It has grown from $5 million, or 5% of total annual gross sales, to about $25 million in gross annual sales, or 20% of the agency's total, and is 'steadily growing' today, Gonzalez said.
Focusing on cruise
The more F1S sold vacations to its clientele, the more it became apparent to Gonzalez that his company needed to specialize in cruises. 'It's the fastest-growing segment in the leisure industry, and our clients are telling us they want to cruise,' he said.
So now F1S Cruises is working with 31 ocean and river cruise lines. F1S Cruises is being run by industry veteran and former Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines sales manager Stephen Scott. Scott will help market the cruise desk to clients and train 90 to 100 independent contractors on how to sell cruises.
'We're here to guide [our agents] through what can seem like an overwhelming amount of options for all lifestyles,' Gonzalez said.
F1S already was one of the top three cruise producers in the New York region before launching the division, Gonzalez said. He hopes to 'move the needle to the top with Stephen on board.'
'Stephen was an award-winning sales executive at one of the leading cruise lines in the world. His knowledge and contacts are outstanding,' Gonzalez said. 'He's convinced us all that our next trip will be a cruise.'
More growth opportunities
Gonzalez sees F1S growing its business in a number of other areas as well.
'We will continue to further specialize and really shine in areas like travel to South America. In our opinion, that's an underdeveloped market that will be rising fast with more and more luxury hotels launching, strong value for the U.S. dollar, and lack of terrorism fears,' he said.
'Many of our specialists are Latin American and fluent Spanish and Portuguese speakers. Furthermore, our team is growing; we're opening more international offices. It has all snowballed into a very exciting future in an industry that is poised for tremendous change.'
Gonzalez founded F1S with his sister Erika Reategui in 1991. The company, a branch of Tzell Travel Group and a Virtuoso member, has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Madrid, London and Bogota. It has dedicated corporate, luxury leisure, cruise, entertainment and events divisions.
F1S is advertising its new cruise division with a fall campaign in magazine, an upscale women's monthly distributed in New York and Los Angeles. The campaign also included event sponsorship during New York Fashion Week with Paris Hilton and the celebrity launch of the magazine in Los Angeles.
--- Original Artcle Link: http://www.travelmarketreport.com/articles/Biz-Travel-Agency-Finds-Big-Success-In-Leisure
Interview with Chance TV @whereischancetv and @CelebrityPageTV at the @BellaLAMag launch.
Stephen Scott, the CEO of the #luxurytravel brand @TravelHub365. Interview with Chance Spiessbach of Chance TV @whereischancetv and @CelebrityPageTV at the @BellaLAMag launch.
People Magazine Article - Bella Magazine Annual White Party
People Magazine Article - Bella Magazine Annual White Party at BELLA NEW YORK's Hampton's White Party, during the celebration of her cover story at the Montauk Yacht club."
Bella New York Magazine - July/August Hampton's Issue
Recently Single, Still-Married Clients Drive Gen-X Travel
10 Zika-Free Babymoon Spots
Travel Hub 365, Inc. partners with New York-based First in Service Travel.
November 13, 2015
Travel Hub 365, Inc. partners with New York-based First in Service Travel.
New York City, November 13, 2015 -- Building on a successful launch in 2015, New York City based agency Travel Hub 365 with a goal of providing excellent service and travel options for corporate and leisure clientele has partnered with First in Service a design house of travel, with clientele in fashion, media, technology and entertainment to extend it's global reach, and luxury travel resources to help accelerate available offerings and capabilities.
First in Service built a team in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, and Bogota and is a member of Virtuoso, the world's leading luxury travel network. First in Service Travel is also a branch of Tzell Travel Group a $2 Billion powerhouse. Learn more about First in Service Travel at www.firstinservice.com
Travel Hub 365 travelers will now have access to exclusive Virtuoso amenities, and benefits only found with a small set of exclusive brands, properties, and tour experiences around the world. Travel Hub 365 CEO and Founder Stephen Scott brings expertise from both corporate and leisure travel companies at Royal Caribbean Cruises and United Airlines. He is also the Board Manager for the New York City Chapter of the Young Travel Professionals (YTP) which is a collection of Young Leaders who are fostering the future of the travel industry. Learn more about YTP at www.youngtravelprofessionals.com
Learn more about Travel Hub 365, Inc. at www.travelhub365.net
