Robin started her career in travel with Explorateur Travel in 2016 where she managed all social media efforts and content creation. In 2018, Robin left her corporate career in sales and marketing to start booking travel full time. After COVID hit the travel industry hard, she and Jennifer Jacob teamed up to create TIQUE - a brand and workflow design studio committed to helping travel advisors build the business of their dreams. Their goal is to unite, support, and inspire travel entrepreneurs to reach their full potential and build the business of their dream, on their terms! After just two years in business, they have grown their team from two to seven, helped over 300 business owners, and create an engaged community platform.
Hannah Reitz is the Director of Business Operations at Gifted Travel Network. With over 20 years of business operations and office management experience, Hannah was compelled to join the travel industry in May of 2019. Her current role at GTN oversees the operations and finance teams which includes supporting employees and overseeing the business's infrastructure to financial operations and commission processing. She also teaches advisors on an ongoing basis how to better understand their commission reporting, using Clientbase systems and provides valuable insight on strategic planning for their business. As an animal lover and advocate, Hannah is often using her free time to foster and volunteer at local animal rescue centers in the Charlotte area.
With Mike serving as President, Nexion Travel Group-Canada, headquartered in London, Ontario, started serving independent contractor agents in Canada in 2013. Born in Canada, a move to Europe as a child due to his father’s career, Mike caught the travel bug early in life, and it never left him. Hired to open an agency in 1981, eventually becoming owner, he led a team that built one of the region’s largest travel agencies serving leisure, corporate, group, and incentive travel, as well as Independent Contractor agents. Mike has served as a board member and other roles in both ACTA and TICO for many years. He has been a teacher and served on committees helping to build the Tourism programs of Fanshawe College in London, as well as board member and fund-raising charitable organizations in London, including the Sunshine Foundation, Junior Achievement, the Small Business Centre, and the London Health Sciences Centre. But Mike’s greatest pride in business is having helped people experience the wonders of the world through travel and working in the travel industry.
Robin Sanchez, CTIE, is the President (and part owner) of Your Travel Center/Montecito Village Travel where she oversees the operation of three offices and over 800 Independent Contractors throughout the United States. Beginning her career in 1988 as a front-line leisure advisor for On the Go Travel, Robin joined Your Travel Center in 1992. Here her responsibilities expanded to include all facets of leisure travel, corporate travel & sales, and agency management, providing her the skills necessary to navigate the challenges of today’s travel industry.
In addition to the critical role she holds at YTC/MVT, Robin is active in many travel organizations, including, but not limited to Virtuoso’s New Advisor Committee, past Secretary and current board member of the Professional Association of Travel Hosts (PATH), member of the American Society of Travel Advisors’ (ASTA) AGC PBS Advisory Committee, past Chapter Secretary of the Orange County ASTA Chapter, CCTO Board Member, and A.L.L.I.E.S & Female Leaders Member. Her proudest achievement, however, is having raised two successful young men to adulthood while balancing a strenuous career path. When not working, traveling, or helping advisors reach their goals, Robin enjoys cooking, gardening and of all things, cleaning.
As a 38 year veteran of the travel industry and the President of MAST Travel Network since 2002, John’s career has included 14 years as a travel agency owner. He has served in various capacities on the Board of the Midwest Chapter of ASTA including Treasurer and Vice President. John has also held several positions on the Board of Directors for MAST including Vice Chairman and Board Chairman during the years he owned Travel Group International, a MAST member during the 1990s.
John led the planning and negotiations of MAST’s first technology platform which culminated in a historic GDS agreement with Amadeus in the late 1990s as volunteer member of the Technology Committee. During his full-time tenure at MAST, John has directed a multi-faceted marketing program for members, the development of advanced training programs and workshops, and the creation of unique events with high-touch elements.
As President of MAST Travel Network, John has overseen the growth of the organization rom 135 members in 2003 to 210 members in 2014. The staff has increased from three persons to ten persons. And sales have grown from $500M to over $755M. John is responsible for the day to day operations of MAST with a focus on member and supplier relations, business development, promotions, and strategic planning. Much of John’s efforts have centered on programs that help travel agency owners manage and operate their businesses and remain profitable and viable.
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Keisha Adriano is the CEO of Travelwise International, a boutique luxury travel company focused on unique experiences centered around authenticity, transformation, and connection.
Keisha understands the importance of community, she shares her time as a mentor by developing and coaching upcoming starts up and aspiring travel advisors with focus on leadership, business acumen, and digital marketing.
As travel enthusiast, Keisha has visited many rare and exotic countries such as Cuba, China, and Philippines. She holds the designations of The Verified Travel Advisor Program (ASTA), serves as Chapter Secretary for the ASTA Central Atlantic, a member of the Travel Leaders Network, and is an ASTA Premium Member. Keisha has been selected as a 2022 Ambassador for GTM and recognized as a Future Leader in Travel by Travel Weekly.
Graduating from the University of Western Ontario with a degree in Physiotherapy, Ian did not initially pursue a career in the travel industry. However, after 10 years in the health care world, he returned to University get his MBA and started his own consulting business focused on business strategy. During that time, Ian was introduced to TravelOnly, one of the largest host agencies in Canada, and began assisting them with marketing, sales and supplier relations. Since joining TravelOnly Ian has built his own travel business and continues to provide sales, marketing and operations support to the TravelOnly team of 700+ advisors. Ian is very passionate about proper business planning as an advisor, the importance of strong supplier relationships and leveraging the expertise of partners to provide the best customer experience.
Travel has always been more than just a hobby – it is my BIGGEST passion. As an agency owner, I learned early in my career that travel is not just a way to see another destination. It’s about creating immersive experiences that will change your life! There’s something about venturing to new destinations, learning about different cultures, and coming back with a piece of you that wasn’t there before you left. As founder of Travel Advisor Resource Center (TARC), I always encourage travel advisors, including my own team, to learn, experience, and grow in this amazing industry. We are afforded so many incredible opportunities, but it all comes down with what you do with those opportunities that counts!