by Robin Amster
Last updated: 4:00 PM ET, Tue April 26, 2016
Travel Leaders Group announced the creation of the new Elite Travel Division to be comprised of Protravel International and Tzell Travel Group, its two predominant travel agency brands.
Gail Grimmett, a 19-year-veteran of executive roles with Delta Air Lines, has been named president of the new division reporting directly to Travel Leaders Group CEO Ninan Chacko. Barry Liben, Tzell's CEO, will assume the chairmanship of Protravel and Tzell.
The new Elite Division represents Protravel International and Tzell Travel Group's combined $4 billion in annual sales volume. Protravel and Tzell focus on luxury leisure travel, corporate travel and entertainment travel.
The two companies, both headquartered in New York City, will retain their own identities but "because of the similarities and the inherent strengths in both brands, we determined it made great sense to leverage their nearly $4 billion in annual sales," said Steve Loucks, chief communications officer for Travel Leaders Group.
That $4 billion volume makes Protravel and Tzell combined-under the new Elite Division-the largest travel agent entity serving luxury clientele, Loucks added. Protravel and Tzell operate strictly in the travel agent space, as opposed to the consortium or franchise area that are also part of the Travel Leaders Group, he added.
The Travel Leaders Group, meanwhile, has annual sales approaching $21 billion and is the largest traditional travel agency company in North America, comprised of about 30 percent of all travel agencies in North America that are wholly-owned, franchised or member agencies.
Collectively Protravel and Tzell have more than 75 branches throughout the U.S. and both also have a London office, said Loucks. More than 2,000 agents are associated with either Protravel or Tzell.
Agents associated with either company won't notice a change, nor will their clients, unless it's something that will help agents in terms of selling luxury travel, Loucks added. "We're all focused on what is best for our agents; they're our life blood."
Travel Leaders Group CEO Ninan Chacko said, "Ultimately, our strategy is to further strengthen the already enviable position our award-winning travel agents from both Protravel and Tzell maintain within the industry, whether they are focused on luxury leisure, corporate or entertainment."
Chacko said Elite's new president, Grimmett, has been recognized for her innovative achievements at Delta Air Lines.
Grimmett has served since 2008 as the airline's senior vice president, Global New York, where she had financial and commercial responsibility for Delta's domestic and international performance in New York. Before that she held a variety of other positions with the airline.
As a champion for New York, Grimmett was asked to serve as New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's appointee on both the New York State Tourism Board and the New York City Regional Economic Development Council. She also serves on several other boards. Crain's Business named her as one of the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in New York.
"Among all the various segments that have contributed to Travel Leaders Group's remarkable growth over the past eight years, none have been more intrinsic to its success than luxury and other high-touch travel," Grimmett said.
"After years of working with both Protravel and Tzell from the supplier side and recognizing how each of them have earned their places as the agencies of choice for the most discerning and elite travelers, it's an incredible honor to be joining these two distinguished teams as we work together to take us, our agents and our valued customers to new heights."
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