This issue’s cover story, “Tauck’s Time to Shine” (page 18), is a
profile of tour operator Tauck World Discovery. This
third-generation, travel-agent favorite has been in the business
far longer than the average family business. As you’ll read, Tauck
executives in part credit the company’s success on its ability to
adapt in order to do whatever it takes to get the job done right.
“By consistently exceeding our guests’ expectations, we’ve built
a loyal following of travelers and the industry’s highest repeat
guest rate,” said Robin Tauck, the company’s CEO.
Tauck World Discovery, of course, is not alone among travel
companies that “consistently exceed expectations.” To honor the
industry’s top suppliers, TravelAge West is introducing
the WAVE Awards. WAVE stands for Western Agents’ Vote of
Excellence, and the award is designed to give travel agents in the
West the opportunity to recognize the outstanding qualities and
services of their supplier partners. Beginning April 1, we will
present the full list of Editor’s Pick recipients both in the
magazine and online at TravelAgeWest.com and it will be up to you,
the agents, to cast your votes to select the final winners.
You will hear more about the awards in upcoming issues, but we
sincerely hope that you will vote for your favorite suppliers and
acknowledge the best of the best.
While we are on the subject of awards, I’m proud to say that
TravelAge West was recently chosen as a finalist for two
Maggie awards. This honor is given to a select group of magazines
and Web sites (out of hundreds of entries) by the Western
Publications Association. This is our second year as a finalist
(last year we brought home two Maggies), and we are grateful to be
acknowledged yet again.
Like Tauck World Discovery, at TAW we hope that we always exceed
your expectations. At least that is what we will continue to strive
for. K.S.
