Leaders In Travel Names Stevens to VP Post

Leaders In Travel, Ltd., a luxury travel agency based in Great Neck, NY, has named Gary Stevens to the newly created post of vice president, Leisure Sales & Marketing. Stevens will develop strategic marketing initiatives and leisure sales opportunities focusing on upscale cruise, tour and travel sectors for the Long Island-based agency. The agency is affiliated with Tzell Travel Group and Signature Travel Network.

Stevens’ plans include a fusion of electronic, postal and event promotional marketing, building upon the agency’s segmentable client database.  He will be launching a newly expanded and designed Leaders In Travel consumer website and an opt-in consumer based leisure e-newsletter, along with seasonal exclusive leisure events for clients.  “Awareness and consistency are key.  Through consistent opt-in marketing and delivering the 'wows' with superior customer service, it is my goal to further build upon and increase our customer base and to keep Leaders In Travel in the forefront of clients’ minds when they think vacation travel,” says Stevens.

Stevens joins Leaders In Travel with more than 20 years of experience in vacation travel development and marketing for leading nationwide travel agencies, franchises and consortia, such as UNIGLOBE CruiseCenters and Ensemble Travel Group, where he developed and launched the original acclaimed Giants Select/Select Traveler direct marketing program. 

For over six years he served as Director of Leisure Sales and Marketing for New York-based Lawyers’ Travel Service (Ovation Travel), as well as three years as Director of Leisure Travel for Ultramar Travel Management, also based in New York.  Stevens has been a marketing consultant to agencies on both coasts.

President and owner Marla B. Schaffer established Leaders In Travel in 1981. With annual sales of $15 million, the agency specializes in high-end leisure travel, as well as meetings and conventions and corporate travel management.  Comprising a staff of 35 agents and independent contractors, providing superior service to clients is Leaders In Travel’s number-one priority. 

Visit  www.leadersintravel.com