Ovation Travel Group Launches Independent Agent Advisory Board

Image: Learn more to earn more. (photo via Prostock-Studio/iStock/Getty Images Plus)
Image: Learn more to earn more. (photo via Prostock-Studio/iStock/Getty Images Plus)
TravelPulse Staff
by TravelPulse Staff
Last updated: 10:08 AM ET, Mon May 10, 2021

WHY IT RATES: Ovation's Independent Advisor advisory board will help Ovation's IA engagement by consulting on Ovation's programs and services. - Lacey Pfalz, Associate Writer, TravelPulse


Ovation Travel Group - an American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) Company that provides business travel services for more than 700 professional organizations and more than 300,000 travelers - announced a significant enhancement to its ongoing engagement with Independent Advisors (IA) in the United States and United Kingdom through its creation and launch of an IA advisory board. Comprised of 12 leading IAs, the advisory board will be actively consulted on programs and services offered to Ovation's IA community and their clientele. The inaugural advisory board meeting convened virtually during the last week of April.

"We are pleased to finally formalize our long-gestating plans to further elevate the experience our IAs have with us," noted Paul Metselaar, Chairman and CEO of Ovation Travel Group. "We have always been proud of the enormous contributions our exceptional IAs have made, not just to Ovation, but also to the world of travel. We are therefore pleased to enlist 12 of our leading advisors to represent their peers on our new advisory board."

"This extraordinary group of IAs provides us with representation from both sides of the Atlantic," explained Tina Rose, Managing Director of Ovation Travel Group UK. "Our advisory board consists of some of the travel industry's top veteran advisors alongside some of our most promising advisors who have joined the industry within recent years. Together, their experience in providing white glove service to clients literally spans the globe."

The 12 IAs who serve on the advisory board are:
- Fiona Bayne (United Kingdom)
- Anna Christofides (United Kingdom)
- Robert Goldstein, CTC (United States)
- Joshua Greenberg (United States)
- Barbara Hammer (United States)
- Sylvia Lebovitch (United States)
- Vicky Metcalfe (United States)
- Karen Newton (United Kingdom)
- Laurie Robinson (United States)
- Judy Stein (United States)
- Andrew Steinberg (United States)
- Andrew Williams (United States)

In addition to Metselaar and Rose, other Ovation leaders providing executive support to the advisory board include: Sunil Mahtani, Chief Financial Officer; Aanchal Gandhi (Vice President of IAs and Leisure); Alex Arcila (Senior Director of Operations & Technology); and Beverly Waldman (Director of Leisure Industry Relations).

For more information on joining Ovation - one of the largest members of Virtuoso - as an Independent Advisor, please visit OvationTravel.com.


For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Topics From This Article to Explore

More From TravelPulse

Related Videos

Grow Your Travel Business With Certified Courses

Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.

Don't Miss These Travel Agent Events and Trainings

Upcoming Webinar
ALG Vacations® is Powering Up Fall with PartnershipTuesday, September 8, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
At ALG Vacations®, partnership means deliver smarter tools, stronger resources, and more opportunities...
Upcoming Webinar
Beyond the Ship: Maximizing Pre and Post Cruise ExperiencesThursday, September 10, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Discover how to enhance the cruise experience with strategic pre and post cruise planning. Learn how...
Upcoming Webinar
Future Leaders in Travel: Meet Our Supplier PartnersFriday, September 11, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
The Future Leaders in Travel conference brings together an exciting group of emerging travel...
Upcoming Webinar
ALG Vacations® is Powering Up Fall with PartnershipTuesday, September 8, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
At ALG Vacations®, partnership means deliver smarter tools, stronger resources, and more opportunities...
Upcoming Webinar
Beyond the Ship: Maximizing Pre and Post Cruise ExperiencesThursday, September 10, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Discover how to enhance the cruise experience with strategic pre and post cruise planning. Learn how...
Upcoming Webinar
Future Leaders in Travel: Meet Our Supplier PartnersFriday, September 11, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
The Future Leaders in Travel conference brings together an exciting group of emerging travel...