With Delta Air Lines as Diamond Sponsor, Tzell observes Golden Anniversary with high profile Branch Meeting, Trade Show and Gala Event at Ellis Island co-hosted by celebrity clients
New York, NY (October 26, 2016) — This week, Tzell Travel Group – one of the travel industry’s most revered agency names particularly renowned for its “who’s who” clientele – is formally celebrating its 50th anniversary through a series of major events in New York City, culminating tomorrow evening with a black-tie gala on Ellis Island. Award-winning actors Alan Cumming and Sarah Jessica Parker, who are Tzell clients themselves, will serve as co-hosts for the 1,000 VIP guests attending the Tzell Gala. Earlier today, 100 leaders from Tzell’s 59 Branches from throughout the United States and United Kingdom met for an extraordinary session featuring top executives from some of the travel industry’s key segments.
This evening, approximately 500 of Tzell’s top travel agent advisors are partaking in an exclusive trade show to network with nearly 150 travel supplier partners. Among the impressive roster of partners – participating not only in the trade show, but also among the top sponsors of the entire two days of events – is Delta Air Lines, designated as the sole Diamond Sponsor of the Tzell 50th Celebration.
“Considering just how dramatically the travel industry has evolved and flourished over the past five decades, it’s both amazing and gratifying to know just how central to its growth Tzell’s best-in-class agents have been. Thanks to their enormous contributions, expertise and 24/7 client care, Tzell has transformed not just the agency side of the business, but the travel business as a whole,” explained Gail Grimmett, President of Tzell Travel Group. “Tzell’s influence and impact on the travel industry is indisputable. Through all of the changes over the years, Tzell’s values and culture have never wavered – we take care of our clients, we take care of each other and we take care of the cherished communities in which we live and work.”
Underscoring one airline’s unique and longstanding relationship with Tzell, Delta Air Lines President of International and Executive Vice President of Global Sales Steve Sear delivered a keynote address and was among those helping to officially kick off today’s Tzell Branch Meeting. Then, in addition to presentations from a wide range of speakers, including Jamie Baker, airline analyst for J.P. Morgan Chase, a major focal point of the day was an executive panel discussion led by Travel Weekly Editor-in-Chief Arnie Weissmann and comprised of leadership from American Airlines, Emirates, Oceania Cruises, Peninsula Hotels, Sabre and United Airlines (which along with Norwegian Cruise Line and Regent Seven Seas Cruises are among the top sponsors of the entire celebration). Panelists discussed their ongoing relationships with Tzell, along with their predictions for the future of travel.
Tzell Chairman Barry Liben noted the enterprise’s dramatic growth since 1966. “Through all the ups and downs and pressures on our industry, Tzell has grown from two people at its inception to over 1,200 people today. We’ve grown from sales of just $4,000 per week to more than $30 million today. Our unofficial motto – ‘work hard, have fun, and make some money along the way’ – has helped transform our annual sales volume to $3 billion today. No matter how powerful Tzell has become, we are a family, sharing and rejoicing in all the good times and supporting each other through the not-so-good times, day in and day out.”
When Tzell was originally founded in New York by Eli Blau in 1966, its initial mission was to assist travelers wishing to travel to and from Israel. That enduring bond has been cited by Nir Barkat, Mayor of Jerusalem, who stated, “You have demonstrated a commendable commitment to Jerusalem and Israel’s history and future. Your support of institutions in our capital ensures that the millions of visitors to our city each year can interact with the Jewish people’s rich history in a meaningful way.”
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio also offered his congratulations, saying, “I am grateful to Tzell Travel Group for helping promote our diverse cultural and hospitality offerings. Since 1966, Tzell’s professional advisors have provided individualized planning and booking services to business, entertainment and leisure travelers, and with headquarters here in New York and offices across the country, this award-winning company is a proven leader in its field.”
The climactic conclusion for the 50th anniversary festivities will be tomorrow evening’s Tzell Gala, which will include many of Tzell’s celebrity clients from the worlds of entertainment, sports and politics, such as explorer and author Josh Bernstein, stylist and fashion consultant Stacy London, pop artist Peter Max, songwriter and musician Ric Ocasek, actor Adam Pally and model and actress Paulina Porizkova. All invited guests will board specially-chartered ferries for a scenic 30-minute ride from lower Manhattan to the Ellis Island National Monument. The Tzell Gala celebration will close as a special fireworks display illuminates the sky above the Statue of Liberty.
Since 1966, Tzell Travel Group has been providing its clients with the highest quality, most personalized travel experience integrated with today’s technology – whether it be corporate, entertainment or leisure travel. Tzell offers comprehensive travel management programs that blend the vast resources it is able to deliver as a travel powerhouse with the personalized dedication and emphasis on quality.
Travelers interested in accessing the travel industry’s highest quality, most personalized and proactive customer service available should visit Tzell.com.
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About Tzell Travel Group: With annual sales of nearly $3 billion, Tzell Travel Group – as part of Travel Leaders Group – is currently ranked first among the nation’s largest corporate travel management companies, according to Business Travel News. Tzell maintains its headquarters in New York City and has offices in 20 states and in the United Kingdom.
In everything it does, Tzell Travel Group places the highest priority on both its clients and its agents. For the individual traveler, Tzell addresses value, convenience, comfort and safety, with its customized quality traveler services. For the corporation, Tzell offers a broad product line of cost containment, meeting services and comprehensive travel management programs.
Tzell focuses on the needs of its agents by providing the best work environment possible and the strongest leadership and support team. These elements combined with excellent air/hotel leisure programs create the “safe haven” which is a hallmark of the Tzell brand.
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