T+L's A-List: The Official Travel Advisory Board
The Travel + Leisure Travel Advisory Board is a select group of owners and operators of the country’s most important agencies. They share with T+L their expert opinions on the latest developments in the travel industry and their read on ever-evolving consumer trends. They are the ultimate travel planners (typically for high spenders only) and can refer you to one of the many top-notch specialists they’ve trained.
Marcus Barlow
Vice president for American Express Travel & Lifestyle Services, Barlow has a team of some 1,500 counselors who provide bespoke concierge services and help card members get the most out of their points.
602-537-4245; marcus.c.barlow@aexp.com
Betsy Donley
This 22-year industry veteran’s agency, Camelback Odyssey Travel, specializes in exotic adventures such as fishing in the Seychelles and space travel with Virgin Galactic. She was also named one of the fly-fishing experts on the 2017 A-List.
602-889-5909; betsyd@camelbacktravel.com
Julia P. Douglas
Douglas, who founded Jet Set World Travel in 2005, has road tested countless hotels, resorts, and villas with her two children in tow. Her agency excels at planning honeymoons and experiential family travel. She was also named one of the family travel experts on the 2017 A-List.
312-574-1181; julia@jetsetworldtravel.com
Jack Ezon
Ezon has an eye for new talent, which has helped his company, Ovation Vacations, meet the demands of younger travelers for destination celebrations and group trips. He also was named one of the destination celebration experts on the 2017 A-List.
212-329-7350; jezon@ovationtravel.com
Gail Grimmett
As president of the Elite Travel Division of the Travel Leaders Group, Grimmett leads a team known for having deep relationships with hotels, airlines, and cruise lines.
212-651-2103; ggrimmett@travelleaders.com
Marc Kazlauskas
Kazlauskas, the president of Frosch’s leisure division and U.S. branch operations, fosters ties to airlines, cruise lines, and railways to craft seamless business and leisure trips.
212-404-6300; marc.kazlauskas@frosch.com
David Lowy
Those with sky-high budgets trust Lowy and his team at Renshaw Travel to deliver extraordinary experiences, like private jets and hard-to-get tee times at the world’s finest golf courses. He also is the luxury travel expert on the 2017 A-List.
604-733-1010; dlowy@renshawtravel.com
Jani Miller
The golf-loving president of Central Travel has firsthand knowledge of the best golf courses, resorts, and fitness activities around the world. She was also named one of the golfing travel experts on the 2017 A-List.
419-897-2070; jani@centraltravel.com
Steve Orens
Because Orens has more than 25 years of experience and serves on the boards of some of the biggest luxury hotel brands, he and his agency, Plaza Travel, can get their business, leisure, and entertainment clients special treatment anytime.
818-990-4053; steve@plazatravel.com
Shawna Huffman Owen
Owen, the president and CEO of Huffman Travel, manages offices in Dayton and Chicago. She shines at planning educational family vacations, romantic getaways, and celebrations. She was also named one of the family travel experts on the 2017 A-List.
312-257-2988; shawna@huffmantravel.com
Edward C. Phillips
As regional director, USA West, at Worldview Travel, this veteran A-Lister oversees seven offices, 18 affiliates, and more than 200 travel agents. Phillips is also an expert on Hawaii.
650-678-0105; ephillips@worldviewtravel.com
Mary Ann Ramsey
Cruising and safaris are among the many specialties of the president and owner of Betty Maclean Travel, which treats clients like lifetime partners. She was also named one of the large and small-ship ocean cruising experts on the 2017 A-List.
800-865-8111; maryann@bettymacleantravel.com
Sandy Schadler
Schadler is the VP of marketing for Travelink, an American Express Travel representative agency, with a network of advisors who can provide the best rates and packages for clients.
615-367-4900; sandy.schadler@travelink.com
Wido L. Schaefer
The employee-owned TravelStore, founded by Schaefer in 1975, is California’s largest independent travel agency. Schaefer also sits on the advisory boards of brands like Belmond and Four Seasons.
310-575-5540; wido.s@travelstore.com
Anne Morgan Scully
Scully, the president of McCabe World Travel and an advisor to Ritz-Carlton and Regent Seven Seas, is an expert in hotels and cruise lines. Her team excels at creating one-of-a-kind itineraries for clients. She was also named one of the Western Europe experts on the 2017 A-List.
703-762-5055; anne@mccabeworld.com
Jim Strong
Accessibility, attention to detail, and an unabashed penchant for luxury drive Strong, who, together with his mother, Nancy Strong, customizes trips that focus on cruising and five-star stays. He was also named one of the Western Europe experts on the 2017 A-List.
214-361-0027; jim@strongtravel.com
Kathy Sudeikis
Voted one of the “100 Most Powerful Women in Travel” by Travel Agent magazine, Sudeikis oversees a team at Acendas that is skilled at organizing large family reunions.
913-671-7700, ext. 3250; kathy.sudeikis@acendas.com
Liz Sadie Sutton
This cruising expert, the president of Alabama World Travel and an advisor to Crystal Cruises, knows the details—from the comfort of the beds to the best excursions. She was also named one of the river cruising experts on the 2017 A-List.
334-279-8720; liz@awtinc.com
Kimberly Wilson Wetty
The copresident of Valerie Wilson Travel, one of the largest full-service travel consulting firms in the U.S., Wetty puts a heavy focus on families and top-shelf hotels. She was also named one of the family travel experts on the 2017 A-List.
212-592-1218; kimberlyww@vwti.com
See the entire list of the world's best travel agents on Travel + Leisure's 2017 A-List.