Success Story: Andi Henig’s Second Act

More than 25 years ago, actress Andi Henig converted her expertise of the theater world into a thriving travel business.

“I use my talents a little bit differently now,” says Henig, who, with her husband, actor Alan Braunstein, co-owns A Team Tours, a company that books trips for the theater world.

 “A gentleman by the name of Rocco Landesman, who was the producer of Big River on Broadway, has been always one of our biggest advocates,” said Henig, whose agency is an affiliate of Tzell Travel Group.  “Because he loved Big River, which I was in the entire time on Broadway, we went to him when we first started looking for clients.”

The business grew from there.

National tours of Broadway shows account for a chunk of the agency’s business. Henig notes that it takes a fair amount of orchestration to execute travel arrangements. There’s figuring out what it costs to fly stars first class while abiding by union rules as to when people can fly. A case in point: a Broadway show could be closing in Atlanta on Sunday and opening in Boston on Tuesday.

“So you have to be able to get the cast and crew there in time to put the new set up and get settled in and be able to perform on Tuesday night,” said Henig.

When it all comes together, it’s like having created a “beautiful ballet,” says Henig.  “When the flight takes off on time and the connection is good and the weather is good, life is pretty good.”

Henig said Tzell Travel Group has been a major contributor to the A Team’s success. “Being an affiliate of Tzell is everything,” she said. “It allows us entrée into being able to network with a group of people on every single level, from hotel managers who come in to talk to us to regular sales reps.”

Whenever there’s a glitch in travel arrangements, Henig said she can rely on Tzell for help. “Tzell’s the major leagues and it helps me every single day – from getting an airline seat to getting into a hotel that’s sold out.”

In the end, it’s all about getting the very best for her clients, Henig said. “I really feel like I’m an advocate for my clients by going the extra mile,” she said.  “I consider the A Team the Cadillac of travel agencies. If you want something done right – and in the best possible way – that’s who you go to.”