Travel Weekly's 2017 Power List


37 | Valerie Wilson Travel

Valerie Wilson Travel
Company sales: $345 million
Employees: 315 full-time employees and hosted agents
Previous ranking: 33

475 Park Ave. S., 34th Floor
New York, NY 10016
T (212) 532-3400
Website

Executives

CHAIRMAN/CEO/CO-OWNER: Valerie Ann Wilson
CO-PRESIDENT/CO-OWNER: Jennifer Wilson-Buttigieg
CO-PRESIDENT/CO-OWNER: Kimberly Wilson Wetty
CFO: Brian J. Buttigieg

2016 Developments

Restructured management team and promoted its first non-family member to a vice president title (Jessica Cook). Also hired an executive director of corporate and a director of corporate account management.
 Launched VWT Academy, a two-day event that brought together industry leaders with 150 advisers from the company's offices.

Held 35th anniversary gala, a 600-person event in New York.

Launched VWT Giving Tree, charitable entity. 

Introduced Peach Awards, recognizing 10 employees and individuals.

Redesigned and branded logo and launched a new tagline: The Future Is Rooted in the Past.

Continued to grow Suite Access program, now with over 200 hotels in 100 countries and generating more than $4.5 million in revenues.

Launched a white-label digital itinerary platform with AXUS and continued to leverage reseller license with Concur.

Company Facts

Privately owned and family managed travel consulting firm with four business units: corporate travel; leisure travel; meetings and celebrations travel; and travel fulfillment services.

$210 million in sales from hosted agents.

ARC sales of $118 million.

Specialists in international travel, which represents 68% of airline sales.
 Host associates, ICs and affiliates from 15 office locations or home-based agents in addition to growing our own "house" clientele ("owned" by full-time employees).

52% of sales from business, 46% leisure, 2% other.

Member of Virtuoso.

Privately held; owned by Valerie Ann Wilson, Jennifer Wilson-Buttigieg, Kimberly Wilson Wetty, and Brian Buttigieg.

Looking Ahead

Focus on growth in all business units, estimating growth of 3% to 5% across the board

Considering ideas for strategic expansion outside core business units.

Will launch a training program for associates and advisers new to the industry.

Preparing to move to new headquarters location in Manhattan.

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