In an unprecedented time of great change and uncertainty, the travel industry has shown its true colors: This is a community of people committed to supporting, encouraging and connecting with one another. Even as the industry faces hardship and loss amid an evolving landscape due to the coronavirus, TravelAge West has been heartened and proud to see our friends, colleagues and partners come together to tackle challenges.
And as we navigate this new world, we’re also reflecting on the celebrations we’ve shared with our beloved community — namely, the TravelAge West Western Agents Votes of Excellence (WAVE) Awards. These awards allow Western-based travel advisors to recognize the travel suppliers, destinations and partners that help them provide exceptional client experiences.
“The WAVE Awards brings together travel advisors and suppliers in a celebration of the travel industry in the West,” said Kenneth Shapiro, Vice President/Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of TravelAge West. “It often feels like a black-tie family reunion. Suppliers are there to demonstrate their commitment to the community of Western agents, and advisors are thrilled to celebrate the companies that support them day in and day out. It’s also incredibly humbling to see so many amazing individuals taking time out of their schedules to attend. It’s a testament to the tradition of TravelAge West’s mission that we’re able to bring together the most important players in the West.”
Last year marked the 50th anniversary of our award-winning travel trade publication, and we commemorated the occasion with the theme “Beyond Words for 50 Years.” In a special, award-winning anniversary issue of the print magazine, helmed by Associate Editor Emma Weissmann, we highlighted landmark moments in the travel industry over the last half-century, as well as discussed topics such as the evolution of the travel advisor profession, the history of our magazine and the advancement of touring, cruising and airlines.
The event honors the top suppliers in travel.
Credit: 2020 Volker CorrellThe culmination of our anniversary year was the annual WAVE soiree, which isn’t just a chance to celebrate the best in the West; it’s also an opportunity for attendees to mingle with peers and partners, as well as form new relationships.
“Every year, we look forward to catching up with our family of travel partners from the area and celebrating our friendships and shared accomplishments,” said Kristin Karst, executive vice president and co-owner of AmaWaterways. “There is such a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect among all the advisors and suppliers who gather for this celebration. Partnership is one of our five core values; we never take anything for granted, and we are always thrilled to receive WAVE Awards from our travel partners. Their vote of confidence and appreciation means so much to all the AmaWaterways teams in the offices and onboard our ships.”
The event also allows agents to get acquainted with companies they may not know well. Donna Alkarmi, president of Texas-based Lone Star Travel and a member of the TravelAge West Agent Advisory Board, says she sees not just the winners, but also the nominees as a guide to who she may want to do business with.
“After the awards, I may review my portfolio of suppliers with which I currently work to strengthen my bond, or possibly add a few more based on the nominees or winners,” she said.
Edyta M. Teper, associate vice president of strategic accounts for the U.S. and Canada for Virgin Voyages, says the awards gala is meaningful to her because of the connections she has formed.
“My professional relationships have always been and still are incredibly important to me; they are an integral part of my success,” she said. “I have been honored to receive the award in two consecutive years [with Travel2], and it has been one of the greatest professional highlights of my travel industry career, bestowed upon me by the travel agency community. That is very humbling and incredibly moving.”
The event also intends to offer guests a respite from their busy workdays.
“The WAVE Awards provides us an opportunity to take a ‘time out’ from the rigors of our day-to-day business, to gather and connect with the great people of our industry and celebrate travel,” said Steve Born, chief marketing officer for the Globus Family of Brands. “It’s a precious time to connect with my colleagues and industry friends in a different setting.”
Steve Orens, president of California-based Plaza Travel, says he enjoys the camaraderie, as well.
“It’s an event that many take most of the day to prepare for; everyone you want to interact with is in one place, for one really fun evening,” he said. “It’s impressive how many executives from our valued travel partners come to Los Angeles from all parts of the country for this annual gala. It has become quite the event, and one that so many plan well in advance to make sure they are available for.”
Above all, the WAVE Awards is a time to connect and celebrate our passion: travel. And today, a spirit of solidarity is key for overcoming the obstacles that lie ahead.
“Travel is like a chain made up of individual links that come together to create memorable experiences for guests and passionate careers for millions of people,” AmaWaterways’ Karst said. “Whether creating, selling, delivering or writing about travel experiences, we are all part of the tourism family and depend on one another to survive challenging times. More than ever, it’s important to celebrate the creativity, innovations, accomplishments and genuine care of the people who are responsible for creating enjoyable and memorable experiences for all travelers as they set out to discover the world around them.”
Voting Is Underway
Now, it’s time to recognize your favorite travel industry players. Voting for the 2020 WAVE Awards is open online now at TravelAgeWest.com/WAVE/Vote.
Editor’s Picks are chosen after several months of thoughtful consideration; we conduct research, survey advisors, consider firsthand experience, glean insight from our TravelAge West Travel Agent Advisory Board and deliberate at length during many in-depth discussions about the list of candidates for WAVE nominations.
The Details
TravelAge West WAVE Awards
www.travelagewest.com/wave/vote