ANN RUPPENSTEIN
Meet the finalists of the 2024 Travel Agent & Beyond Award
We’ve scoured the pages of our annual Travel Agent Appreciation magazine to learn all about the hardworking travel advisors who were nominated by their peers from coast to coast. We’ve read and reread the nominations to see who stands out for making a difference in the travel industry or in their respective communities. We’ve searched the depths of the internet and social media to gain insights into what drives these individuals to go beyond the call of duty in their day jobs. And now, the time has come to reveal who is in the running to be crowned Baxter Media’s 2024 Travel Agent & Beyond and take home:
- A $500 gift card courtesy of Huntington Travel Group
- A ticket to the 2024 Agents’ Choice Gala courtesy of Baxter Media
The prestigious award was launched four years ago to recognize one of nominees in the annual Travel Agent Appreciation combined special edition of Travel Courier and Canadian Travel Press with some extra recognition during Travel Agent Appreciation Month.
Past recipients of the Travel Agent & Beyond Award include Chen Yu of The Travel Agent Next Door, Mary LaRocque of Marlin Travel/Travel n Style Boutique and Shalene Dudley from Latitude Concierge Travels, three exemplary agents known for making a difference in the travel industry… and beyond.
This year there was such a high calibre of agents nominated that it was challenging for our selection committee to narrow down the finalists. Now, let’s meet the contenders for the 2024 Travel Agent & Beyond Award:
Lesley Scharf’s nomination immediately stood out by the carefully drafted note that included five in-depth reasons from her manager about why she was deserving of this award. Among her top attributes were her genuine passion for the business, her adaptability and her great attitude. Lesley seems like the type of employee you’d want working in your office!
Originally from the UK, Kemi Wells-Conrad moved to Canada in 2012. She started her career at North South Travel before starting her own agency, Wells Luxury Travel in 2021 — in the middle of the pandemic. Over her time in the industry, she helped lead the Vancouver branch of Young Travel Professionals and later co-launched Millennials in Travel, a networking group for people in travel and those who are new to the industry. Today she serves on the advisory board for Virtuoso and Travel & Leisure.
At the height of the pandemic, Judith Coates was actively involved in ACITA, the Association of Canadian Independent Travel Advisors, advocating for the rights of independent contractors and seeking to get back lost commission for this segment of the industry. She started her travel career in 1996 and strongly believes agents should know their worth and charge fees for their expert advice.
When you have not one, not two but three worthy nominations from different tour operators ranging across different positions in the travel industry, we take notice. Diane Manson has been in the industry for over 30 years and remains just as passionate as ever. Diane is all about sustainability and encourages clients to travel with their own coffee cup.
And the winner of the Travel Agent & Beyond is…
“At Huntington Travel Group, we believe that travel advisors are the heartbeat of our industry, shaping extraordinary journeys and transforming dreams into reality. Your passion helps redefine the meaning of travel, creating experiences that last a lifetime,” said Ravi Kumar, COO, Huntington Travel Group, this year’s prize sponsor. “In your hands, dreams take flight, and journeys become lifelong memories. Your expertise is the compass guiding travellers across the globe. This month, we celebrate you —the architects of dreams, the planners of exploration.”
As a token of their “immense appreciation,” Huntington Travel Group will present a $500 gift card to Kemi Wells-Conrad, the winner of Travel Agent & Beyond.
“May it serve as a small token of our gratitude for the incredible impact you make on the world of travel,” he added.
Congratulations Kemi!
