SECAUCUS, N.J. -- Travel Weekly has named eight agents to its
first advisory board. Nadine Godwin, editor in chief, said the
members represent a variety of types and sizes of agencies and
different sections of the country.
The agents, who were among more than 50 nominated by other
retailers and by Travel Weekly reporters, were asked for one-year
commitments. Godwin said the board will critique the publication on
an ongoing basis and offer feedback on Travel Weekly's
responsiveness to readers' needs and the changing trends in the
industry.
The eight are:
Hank Boubelik, president and chief executive officer, Mainline
Cruise and Travel, Minnetonka, Minn., the leisure division of
Northwestern Travel, Minneapolis, with $150 million in volume.Barbara Hall, manager, Penn Center Travel, Paoli, Pa., a
13-year-old agency with $20 million in volume -- 99% of it leisure,
including 55% escorted tours.Maryann Harlow, president and owner, Wheatland Travel &
Cruise Center, Pullman., Wash., a $4 million agency.Karen Killebrew, president, Escape Artists, Oakland, Calif.,
doing $1.5 million to $2 million annually in sales.Linda Robison, president, Academy Travel, Colorado Springs,
Colo., a 12-year-old agency with $5 million in sales -- 68%
retail.Richard Turen, president, Churchill & Turen, Naperville,
Ill., a 10-year leisure agency with $3.6 million in volume.Maureen White, vice president, Professional Travel Corp.,
Windsor, Conn., a $20 million commercial agency, founded in
1990.Pam Wright, president and chief executive officer, Wright
Travel, Nashville, Tenn., a $100 million agency -- 90% of it
commercial -- with 30 offices and 185 employees.Godwin said the board will meet three times a year in different
sections of the country.
"We received solid advice or story ideas from almost every agent
whom we interviewed," Godwin said. "It has been a gratifying
process, and our only regret is that we could not name other
qualified candidates, most of whom were willing and eager to
serve."