Steve Gorga, president and CEO of Travel Impressions will be inducted into the Tourism Hall of Fame at the Crowne Plaza Times Square in New York City on May 29, 2013. The award recognizes individuals who have made significant personal and professional contributions to travel and tourism through philanthropic, volunteer and mentoring activities.
Gorga joins previous honorees including J.W. (Bill) Marriott and Arthur Tauck, among others. Other honorees this year include Phillip Gordon, chairman of the Globus family of brands.
“Steve is a smart, gracious and inspirational leader, and now the industry he has served for most of his career will acknowledge his notable accomplishments and leadership example,” said John Hanratty, chief operating officer, Travel Impressions.
Gorga’s career includes service with American Airlines, SABRE, Utell and Reed Travel Group and Kemwel Holiday Autos. For the past 11 years he has been as president and CEO of Travel Impressions.
“His knowledge, character and contributions are widely known and respected throughout the industry,” added Hanratty.
Susan Black, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Travel Impressions, commented: “He is a CEO who is closely engaged with his employees, his customers and his industry.”
Gorga’s leadership philosophy is woven throughout all of the charitable actions and initiatives in which Travel Impressions and its employees participate in on an on-going basis throughout the year, as the company endeavors to not only meet the needs of others, but to also support the preservation of the travel and tourism industry, Tourism Cares said.
Travel Impressions shares in the vision of Tourism Cares to help clean up and restore important historic sites that are in need of care and rejuvenation. Over the years, Travel Impressions has sent teams to contribute to these efforts nationwide, Tourism Cares said.
“With our corporate headquarters located on Long Island, we found ourselves at the epicenter of Hurricane Sandy’s destruction, with many of our employees measurably impacted,” said Gorga. “Our team looks forward with great enthusiasm to supporting upcoming Tourism Cares initiatives to rebuild Coney Island, an area of rich history that is not only near, but very dear to many in the local community.”
The Hall of Fame event on May 29 coincides with Tourism Cares’ 10th anniversary of its Tourism Cares for America travel industry volunteer program that began at Ellis Island in June of 2003. Hundreds of travel industry professionals will be gathering in New York on May 30 – 31, 2013 to do much-needed cleanup and restoration work at Brooklyn’s Coney Island, a neighborhood still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Sandy.
A portion of the proceeds of the Tourism Hall of Fame event will fund grants to affected tourism-related nonprofit sites in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Visit www.tourismcares.org or www.tourismcares.org/tourism-hall-of-fame.