Each year, Travel + Leisure evaluates thousands of travel agents to compose a list of the top agents in the country. This year, 39 agents of the top 129 listed came from the West, each chosen from specialized categories based on his/her region of expertise. The following lists this year’s Travel + Leisure A-List agents of 2009 from the 14 Western U.S. states of TravelAge West’s distribution.
Arizona
Karen Benson, Camelback Odyssey Travel, Phoenix (Adventure, Skiing and Spas)
Cassandra Bookholder, Camelback Odyssey, Phoenix (Australia and French Polynesia)
Betsy Donley, Camelback Odyssey Travel, Phoenix (Fly-fishing, Western U.S., Canada and South America)
California
Catharina Apodac, San Diego Travel Group, San Diego (Australia and New Zealand)
Carol Arklind, Travel Dynamics Group Inc., La Jolla (Great Britain and Scandinavia)
Marianne Braly, Now Voyager Travel, Huntington Beach (France and Mexico)
Carolyne Brandon, American Express Travel, Palo Alto (Hawaii and River Cruises)
Katie Cadar, TravelStore Platinum, Los Angeles (Africa and French Polynesia)
Sarah Ryan Duffy, SRD International, Los Angeles (Celebrity Travel and Yachts/Villas)
Diane Embry, Michael’s Travel Centre, Westlake Village (Southeast Asia))
Jerry Greenberg, Cassis Travel Services Inc., Los Angeles (Brazil, France and Italy)
Susanne Hamer, TravelStore, Los Angeles (Australia, French Polynesia, and New Zealand)
Deborah Hyte, Unique Travel Services at Altour, Los Angeles (Italy and Western Europe)
Sandy Litwin, Litwin Travel, Los Angeles (Southeast Asia)
Janet Moore, Distant Horizons, Long Beach (Bali, India and the Middle East)
Laurette de Moro, Worldview Travel, Santa Ana (France and Morocco)
David Ruben, DavidTravel, Corona del Mar (Gay/Lesbian Travel and Milestone Trips)
Lynda Turley Garrett, Alpine Travel, Saratoga (Australia, Food/Wine and New Zealand)
Doris White, Travel Dynamics, La Jolla (Barge Cruises and Hiking/Walking)
Colorado
Joyce Falcone, Italian Concierge, Aspen (Italy and Culinary tours)
Katie Nelson, Belize and Costa Rica Travel Points, Boulder (Belize, Costa Rica and Guatemala)
Darlene Ravin, Andavo Independent Elite, Greenwood Village (North Africa and Southeast Asia)
Noriko Townsend, Aggie Travel Points International, Fort Collins (China and Japan)
Dana Welch, Travel Society, Denver (Africa and Adventure Tours)
Idaho
Lindsey Wallace, Linara Travel, Eagle (Maldives, Seychelles and United Arab Emirates)
Nevada
Kathy Falkensammer, Prestige Travel and Cruises, Las Vegas (Cruises and Europe)
New Mexico
Sandy Cunningham, Uncharted Outposts Safari & Travel Company, Santa Fe (East Africa)
Oregon
Paul Niskanen, Cruise Masters/Concierge Travel Advisors, Portland (Culture and Adventure; Cruises; and African Safaris)
Texas
Kathy Hannon, American Express Travel, Dallas (Cruises, Family and Skiing)
F. Peter Herff II, Herff Travel Inc., San Antonio (Iberian Penninsula, Italy and Scotland)
Mark Hoyer, American Express Travel, Houston (Canada, Costa Rica and Gay/Lesbian Travel)
Margery Hunter, Rudi Steele Travel, Dallas (Chile; Culture and Education; and New Zealand)
Jim Strong, Strong Travel, Dallas (Super Agent)
Nancy Strong, Strong Travel, Dallas (Super Agent)
Ruth Turpin, Cruises Etc. Travel, Fort Worth (Cruises and Riverboat Cruises)
Sally Watkins, Century Travel, Austin (Australia and Italy)
Laura Woo, West University Travel, Houston (Hawaii and Hong Kong)
Utah
Carlos L. Fida, PanAmerican Tours and Travel, Salt Lake City (South America and Wine Tours)
Washington
Clare Seyer, Your French Connection, Shoreline (France and Italian Countryside)
