Los Angeles-based luxury travel firm, Elite Travel International, expands to London; adds luxury hotel executive as LA-based VP

Jan. 13, 2014 -- Los Angeles-based Elite Travel International, a Virtuoso agency, now counts London among the locations of its affiliates. Bon Vivant, a luxury lifestyle concierge firm run by Emyr Thomas, was chosen for this exclusive UK/European collaboration for its shared passion, professionalism, extensive network and commitment to quality.

In partnering in this fashion with Bon Vivant, Elite Travel International aims to become the go-to company for personalised luxury travel planning for British travelers throughout London and the UK.

Founded in 2005 by Virtuoso’s 2013 Most Innovative Travel Advisor Stacy Small, Elite Travel International continues to expand its affiliate network throughout North and South America. “What truly sets us apart is the varied background and experience each member of the team brings to the company,” says Small.

New to the team as of January 2014 is veteran luxury hotel sales/marketing executive Stephanie Conchuratt who joins as Los Angeles-based Vice President after a 15-year career in hotel sales and marketing at prestigious properties including The Lowell in NYC and the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles. Recently promoted to Elite Travel International’s Vice President of Operations post is another former luxury hotel executive, Lima, Peru-based Erika Bandy. She is joined in Peru by Alex Seeger, a former tour operator/boutique hotel developer.

The company’s Director of Growth, Joanne Scully, is an attorney by trade; and Newark, NJ-based Alyson Nash, Special Project Directors, has years of experience managing large-scale events and marketing projects. Laine Wladis, a former executive with the NYC-based Restaurant Group, has also joined Elite Travel to parlay her passion for travel and organizational skills into a successful luxury travel career.

Elite Travel International is rounded out with Orange County, CA-based airline guru John Dekker; and a business-savvy team with experience in all facets of business from public relations to marketing to sales and social media. Comprised of Westchester, NY-based Diane Weidenbaum and Saralyn Bass; Los Angeles-based

11693 San Vicente Blvd. #223, Los Angeles, CA 90049www.elitetravelinternational.com

 

Melissa Gelman and Greta Kranz (also a former luxury hotel exec with stints at Amanresorts and MGM); Helena, MT-based Taegan Walker; Minnesota-based Emily Feia; Arizona-based (now spending a few months in Italy!) John Beeler; and Northern California-based Carolyn Bird; the Elite Travel International team is uniquely positioned for continued growth in 2014 and beyond.

Nicknamed the “Google of travel” by her clients, Small — a former travel journalist/magazine editor with a worldwide network of high-level, luxury travel contacts — now spends the bulk of her time curating and planning trips for a portfolio of clients that includes a mix of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, C-level execs, Hollywood producers, celebs, media, fashion, technology & finance moguls.

Elite Travel International belongs to the invite-only top-producer/partnership programs offered by Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, Dorchester Collection, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Peninsula Hotels, Orient-Express and Mandarin Oriental. This, in addition to the company’s prestigious Virtuoso membership, ensures that Elite Travel International clients from London to LA to Peru enjoy VIP perks and benefits ranging from priority upgrades, complimentary breakfast, free WiFi, spa or restaurant credits and customized VIP amenities at luxury hotels worldwide that are otherwise unavailable to the general public.

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Contacts:

www.elitetravelinternational.com

11693 San Vicente Blvd. #223, Los Angeles, CA 90049www.elitetravelinternational.com