Conde Nast Traveler Selects Top 135 Travel Agent Specialists
07/21/2010
Conde Nast Traveler (CNT) has published its annual list of the top 135 travel agent specialists and generalists, which will appear in the magazine’s August issue. For the eleventh year, Wendy Perrin, consumer news editor and columnist for the magazine, has picked the travel specialists that she says offer the best blend of expertise, access, and good value.
Each year, Perrin and her CNT team evaluate hundreds of new applicants for the list. Recommended specialists have undergone a rigorous screening process that begins with a 47-question application with sample itineraries and client references, and then continues with phone interviews and, in most cases, road-testing by CNT staff. What follows is the full list by category specialist (some agents are listed multiple times as specialists for different destinations or travel niches).
North America: Margret Propper, Brownell Travel (Alaska); Jackie Richmond, Wine Country Concierge (California Wine Country); Judi Chaitman, Great Getaways (Hawaii); Betty Cox, Travel Concepts (Hawaii); Susan D. Tanzman, Martin's Travel & Tours (Hawaii); Kitt Garrett, Discover New York, LLC (New York); Sheri Doyle, Pacific Northwest Journeys (Pacific Northwest); Caroline Wood, Brownell Travel (Rocky Mountains); Bruce B. Sawyer, Touch the Southwest Tours (Southwest); Mary Pyle Peters, Distinctive Journeys (Canada); Marc Telio, Entrée Destinations (Canada); Adamarie King, Connoisseur's Travel (Mexico); Zachary Rabinor, Journey Mexico (Mexico); Jewell Ramos, AAA (Mexico).
Caribbean & Bermuda: Vicky McGlynn, Travelong (Bermuda); Terry McCabe, Altour (Caribbean); Becky Veith, Becky Veith Travel (Caribbean).
South and Central America: Maita Barrenechea, Mai 10 (Argentina); Tom Damon, Southwind Adventures (Argentina, Chilean Patagonia, Ecuador, Peru); Vanessa Guibert Heitner, Limitless Argentina (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay); Becky Harris, Viaventure (Belize, Guatemala, Honduras); Martin Frankenberg, Matuete (Brazil); Paul Irvine, Dehouche (Brazil); Jill Siegel, South American Escapes (Brazil); Clark Kotula, Geographic Expeditions (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru); Leigh Ann Cloutier, Rico Tours (Costa Rica); Irene Edwards, GreenSpot (Costa Rica); Michael Kaye, Costa Rica Expeditions (Costa Rica); Meg McGriff North, Brownell Travel (Panama); Marisol Mosquera, Aracari (Peru).
Europe: Ellison Poe, Poe Travel (Austria); Harmina Mulder, The Travel Society (Belgium, Netherlands); Alexander Datsev, Exeter International (Bulgaria, Romania, the Balkans); Wanda S. Radetti, Tasteful Croatian Journeys (Croatia); Gwen Kozlowski, Exeter International (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland); Tor D. Jensen, Jensen World Travel (Denmark, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden); Jill Jergel, Frontiers International Travel (France); Howard E. Lewis, Protravel International (France); Colombe McCarthy, Destinations & Adventures International (France); Marion Harbison, Sterling Brownell (Germany); Ronnie Liadis, Liadis Travel (Greece); Leftheris Papageorgiou, Hellenic Adventures (Greece); Christos Stergiou, True Greece (Greece); Kathleen Sheridan, Altour (Ireland); Marcello Baglioni, Agave Travel Creative (Italy-Sicily); Joyce Falcone, The Italian Concierge (Italy); Maria Gabriella Landers and Brian Dore, Concierge in Umbria (Italy); Andrea Grisdale, IC Bellagio (Italy); Rudi Steele, Rudi Steele Travel (Italy, Switzerland, Western Europe Specialist); Harmina Mulder, The Travel Society (Netherlands, Belgium); Nuno Tavares, Tours for You (Portugal); Greg Tepper, Exeter International (Russia, Eastern Europe); Natasha Tichy, Frontiers International Travel (Russia, Baltic States); Virginia Irurita, Made for Spain (Spain); Heinz Rufer, Beale Travel Service (Switzerland); Karen Fedorko Sefer, Sea Song Tours (Turkey); Earl Starkey, Protravel International (Turkey); Katey Hartwell, Travel Experts (United Kingdom, London); Mhairi Mackenzie, Mackenzie Brock Tours (United Kingdom, Scotland); Susie Worthy, The NoteWorthy Group (United Kingdom).
Asia: Brent Olson, Geographic Expeditions (Bhutan); G. W. "Sandy" Ferguson, Asia Desk (Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam); Andrea Ross, Journeys Within Tour Company (Cambodia, Laos, Thailand); David Allardice, Eastern Journeys (China); Gerald Hatherly, Abercrombie & Kent (China); Leslie Overton, Absolute Travel (China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam); Guy Rubin, Imperial Tours (China); Mei Zhang, WildChina (China); Jonny Bealby, Wild Frontiers (Georgia, Caucasus, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan); Victor Biswas, International Ventures and Travel (India); Lucy Davison, Banyan Tours (India); Bertie and Victoria Dyer, India Beat (India); Sanjay Saxena, Destination Himalaya (India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tibet); Diane Embree, Michael's Travel Centre (Indonesia); Nancy Craft, Esprit Travel & Tours (Japan); Leslie Overton, Absolute Travel (Japan, China, Thailand, Vietnam); Lindsey Wallace, Linara Travel (Maldives, United Arab Emirates, Oman); Jalsa Urubshurow, Nomadic Expeditions (Mongolia); William Myatwunna, Good News Travel (Myanmar); Antonia Neubauer, Myths and Mountains (Nepal); Sanjay Saxena, Destination Himalaya (Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Tibet); Walter Keats, Asia Pacific Travel Ltd. (North Korea, South Korea); Vassi Koutsaftis, Geographic Expeditions (Tibet).
Africa & the Middle East: Cherri Briggs, Explore Southern Africa Safari Specialist (Africa Safari); Linda Friedman, Custom Safaris (East Africa Safaris); Julian Harrison, Premier Tours (Southern Africa Safari); Ryan Hilton, Admiral Travel Gallery (Southern Africa Safaris); Mark Nolting, Africa Adventure Company (Family Safaris); Phoebe Weinberg, Greatways Travel (Southern Africa Safaris); Nina Wennersten and Daniel Saperstein, Hippo Creek Safaris (East Africa Safaris); James R. Berkeley, Destinations & Adventures International (Egypt, Jordan, Israel); Susan Weissberg, Wylly's Professional Travel (Israel); Rita Zawaideh, Caravan-Serai (Lebanon, Syria); Monique Rodriguez, Cortez Travel & Expeditions (Madagascar); Joel Zack, Heritage Tours Private Travel (Morocco); Lindsey Wallace, Linara Travel (Oman, Maldives); Jonny Bealby, Wild Frontiers (Pakistan, Caucasus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan); Astrid Breuer, Island Splendor Vacations (Seychelles); Jerry Sorkin, TunisUSA (Tunisia)
Australia & Pacific: Donna Thomas, New Zealand Travel (Australia, New Zealand); Lynette Wilson, Destination World (Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea); Kleon Howe, The Art of Travel (Cook Islands, French Polynesia).
Cruise Specialists: Chuck and Lynn Cross, Polar Cruises (Antarctica & Arctic); Paul Niskanen, Cruise Masters (Asia & Baltic Sea); Dorothy Reminick, Travel Resource (Cunard Line); Jill Jergel, Frontiers International Travel (Europe Canal Barge Trips) Margret Propper, Brownell Travel (Europe River Cruises); Linda Allen, Cruises by Linda (Large Affordable Ships); Tom Baker, CruiseCenter (Large Affordable Ships); Mary Ann Ramsey, Betty Maclean Travel (Luxe Multi-Generational Cruises); Leslie Fambrini, Personalized Travel Consultants (Small Luxury Ships); Mary Jean Tully, The Cruise Professionals (Small Luxury Ships); Richard Bruce Turen, Churchill & Turen (Small Luxury Ships); Janet Lanterman, Cruise Specialists (World Cruises); Ed Hamilton, Ed Hamilton and Co. (Yacht Charters, Caribbean); Mary Crowley, Ocean Voyages (Yacht Charters, Worldwide).
Special Travel Interests: Rich Snodsmith, Backroads (Bicycle Trips); Terry McCabe, Altour (Business Travel); Jennifer Wilson-Buttigieg, Valerie Wilson Travel (Business Travel); Richard Bruce Turen, Churchill & Turen (Culinary Programs); Jody Bear, Bear & Bear/Tzell (Destination Celebrations); Susan Kelly, Travel Magic (Disney); Leslie Overton, Absolute Travel (Family Travel, Asia); Joan S. Weber, Journeys International (Family Travel: International); Kay Merrill, Are We There Yet? Family Adventures (Family Travel: With Older Children); Kimberly Wilson Wetty, Valerie Wilson Travel (Family Travel: With Young Children); Mollie Fitzgerald, Frontiers International Travel (Fly-Fishing and Bird Shooting); Gary Leff, Book Your Award (Frequent-Flyer Awards); Peter Carideo, CRC Travel (Gay and Lesbian Travel); Gordon Dalgleish, PerryGolf (Golf); Eleanor Nelson, Travel House Inc. (Affordable Golf Specialist); Angela Turen, Churchill & Turen (Honeymoon); Sylvia and Ted Blishak, Train Travel Consulting at Accent on Travel USA (Rail Travel, North America); Mindy Gleason, O.A.R.S. (River Rafting); Thom Gilligan, Marathon Tours & Travel (Running); Cherri Briggs, Explore Southern Africa Safari Specialist (African Safaris); Linda Friedman, Custom Safaris (East Africa Safari Specialist); Julian Harrison, Premier Tours (Southern Africa Safari Specialist); Ryan Hilton, Admiral Travel International (Southern Africa Safari Specialist); Mark Nolting, Africa Adventure Company (Family Safari Specialist); Phoebe Weinberg, Greatways Travel (Southern Africa Safari); Nina Wennersten and Daniel Saperstein, Hippo Creek Safaris (East Africa Safari Specialist); Meg Austin, The Travel Society (Scuba Diving); Dorothea Rasser, SkiEurope/Alpine Adventures (Skiing, Europe); Jana Emery, Ski.com (Skiing and Snowboarding: North and South America); Angela Turen, Churchill & Turen (Spa); Joyce Falcone, The Italian Concierge (Walking Tours, Italy); Paul Bennett, Context Travel (Walking Tours, Urban); Larry Martin, Food & Wine Trails (Wine Programs); Richard Bruce Turen, Churchill & Turen (Wine Programs).
Recommended Generalists: Meg Austin, The Travel Society; Jody Bear, Bear & Bear/Tzell; James R. Berkeley, Destinations & Adventures International; Judi Chaitman, Great Getaways; Mollie Fitzgerald, Frontiers International Travel; Katey Hartwell, Travel Experts; Ryan Hilton, Admiral Travel Gallery; Adamarie King, Connoisseur's Travel; Terry McCabe, Altour; Meg McGriff North, Brownell Travel; Ellison Poe, Poe Travel; Mary Ann Ramsey, Betty Maclean Travel; Rudi Steele, Rudi Steele Travel; Richard Bruce Turen, Churchill & Turen; Lindsey Wallace, Linara Travel; Phoebe Weinberg, Greatways Travel; Kimberly Wilson Wetty, Valerie Wilson Travel; Joel Zack, Heritage Tours Private Travel. For more information on CNT’s top agent list, visit www.concierge.com/tools/travelagentfinder.
