Famous women who work in the travel industry
Most influential travel women
The majority of leisure travel spending in america is made by women, who also account for 80% of corporate travel bookings. This has a significant impact on where the entire nation travels for both business and pleasure.
Who has the most influence out of all these millions of “deciders”? Forbeslife executive 旅行業界における女性の活躍と実態 woman surveyed leading business leaders to find out.
The end result is our first list of the 25 most influential women in travel, each of whom has contributed significantly to shaping the $740 billion u.s. industry that accounts for more than 5% of the country’s gdp and will continue to do so. Our list is followed by their predictions for the hottest new travel destinations and trends.
Current specialists
Brown, carolyn spencer
Brown was an obvious choice to take over cruisecritic.com after years of reporting on cruises for the washington post. The website receives 5 million visitors each year and has more than 110,000 registered users as a result of the wealth of information, vibrant community, and honest reviews (from both staff and members). That may help to explain why hitwise lists it as the top cruise information website.
Georgia kirsner vice president, ritz-carlton travel industry sales
Travel agents’ one wish, if they could have it, would be that hotels treat their guests like royalty. Kirsner established the ritz-stars carlton’s program, which is limited to the best travel agencies affiliated with the business because she is aware that satisfied customers are more likely to make repeat purchases.
Selected agents can make reservations on a password-protected website. A designated “guardian angel” at each property keeps an eye on stars clients in addition to the attentive service provided to ritz-carlton guests to provide even more individualized care.
The founder of lisa lindblad travel design is lisa lindblad.
For a select group of customers who don’t bat an eye at her initial consulting fee of $2,500 to design an itinerary, lindblad creates individualized journeys. East africa and india are among the regions of expertise. Customers should prepare for an unforgettable journey. “i make sure to insert magical moments,” says lindblad, “like standing atop a hill in east africa as the sun sets.”
Michelle peluso, executive vice president of sabre and ceo of travelocity (also see “the climb”)
The pioneer of online travel agencies, travelocity, suffered a setback in 2002 when expedia and orbitz expanded their business. Wharton alumnus peluso, who has been travelocity’s ceo since 2003, launched an innovative hotel partnership program and oversaw the company’s acquisition of lastminute.com and zuji.com to help the business become profitable (another travel-planning website). The world economic forum recognized her as a young global leader in 2008. Peluso maintains a small-business-like approach in her interactions with people despite the size and scope of travelocity’s business. She responds to all emails from customers that arrive in her inbox and makes an effort to respond to emails from employees within 24 hours.
The Women in Travel of Lalia rach is the founder of rach enterprises as well as the divisional dean and hvs international chair of the nyu tisch center for hospitality, tourism, and sports management.
Outstanding coaches are required for every game. Rach is one of the most sought-after speakers in the field and has counseled numerous individuals. She monitors market trends in affluent and baby-boomer markets in addition to business management trends because she is an academic and the founder of a business consulting firm.
She is credited with influencing the following generation of travel industry professionals, in part because she has embraced the increasingly digital way of conducting business.
Despite having a lifelong passion for travel, schultz only started honing her “life list” while working as a travel journalist (for magazines like condé nast traveler and frommer’s). This “life list” eventually became a number-one bestseller in 2004.
The compulsively readable book has sold 2.8 million copies and introduced the world to wonders like the hagia sophia and canyon de chelly. It has also inspired a sequel (on websites for the us and canada), a travel channel show, and even a round-the-world flight with tcs expeditions.
Standard-bearers
Biggar, lynne
American express consumer travel network senior vice president and general manager
To assist with making travel arrangements, american express platinum cards are frequently obtained. Biggar, who oversees the department that offers upscale travel services, is the amex employee who has the most responsibility for keeping them satisfied. Since taking over the position in 2005, she has increased travel sales by more than 20% annually while managing over 3,000 employees.
President and ceo of seabourn cruise line, pamela c. Conover
Conover, who now calls key biscayne home after receiving her education in england and thailand, brings a global perspective to her position as ceo of seabourn, the upscale cruise line owned by carnival corporation, which she assumed in 2006.
The industry standard for sea travel is set by seabourn’s all-suite ships, and the company is renowned for the closeness of its fleet (ships accommodate 208 to 450 guests).
Passengers can choose an optional program that provides personal shoppers and chauffeur service while they are in port. The $250 million, 32,000-ton odyssey, the line’s daring new flagship, is scheduled to make its debut in 2009, and two additional ships are in the works.
Silversea cruises senior vice president of sales and marketing marilyn conroy
Conroy was one of the first women to work in the cruise industry at a senior level. She currently manages sales and marketing for silversea, which has received accolades like being rated as the best small ship cruise line in a recent condé nast traveler readers’ choice poll. She has 30 years of experience working for major cruise lines, including crystal and cunard.
