TRAVELINK News

Each year, Travel + Leisure’s Advisory Board (a group of top-tier travel professionals) selects a new collection of Rising Star travel advisors. These are emerging talents who serve high-end, affluent clients and push boundaries with personalized, transformational experiences. The chosen advisors attend an exclusive Rising Stars Lunch at ILTM Cannes, gaining mentorship by shadowing board members and expanding their networks. Through this, they gain visibility, industry insight, and tools to scale their businesses and client impact. 

This year, TRAVELINK is proud to announce that Jonathan Pilkington has been selected as a Travel+Leisure and ILTM Rising Star.

Jonathan founded Pilkington Travels, an independent affiliate of TRAVELINK, a Virtuoso agency. Drawing on his background as a professional singer, Pilkington integrates artistry and meticulous attention to detail into crafting itineraries for his clients. His specialties include the creation of customized European itineraries, as well as luxury all-inclusive experiences, such as river and ocean cruises, rail journeys, and resorts.

Why nominated: Jonathan Pilkington is not only on the rise in the Atlanta area, but he is also starting his own travel podcast. Jonathan is unique in that he’s a professor of music at Emory University in voice and is an award-winning tenor who is simultaneously succeeding at orchestrating amazingly creative itineraries for his clients. A true Virtuoso.

About TRAVELINK:

TRAVELINK, a proud member of Virtuoso® and the GBT Network, is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, and serves business, leisure, and group travel clients through a national network of experienced travel advisors. As a Travel Weekly Power List of the most influential leaders for 2024, we specialize in creating exceptional leisure travel experiences from luxury getaways and family vacations to milestone celebrations and bespoke journeys. At the same time, we remain a trusted provider of corporate and group travel management for Fortune 500 companies, mid-sized businesses, entertainment professionals, sports teams, and nonprofit organizations. With a commitment to personalized service and industry expertise, Travelink is your partner in navigating both the professional and personal sides of travel.

About Travel + Leisure:

Travel + Leisure is the preeminent voice for the sophisticated traveler, serving up expert intelligence and the most immersive travel lifestyle content anywhere. Travel + Leisure captures the joy of discovering the cultural pleasures the world has to offer, from art and design to shopping and style to food and drink. Travel + Leisure connects with its audience across platforms including the U.S. flagship and four international print editions, digital channels, the annual World's Best franchise and more.

Travel + Leisure has a print circulation of 955,896, an affluent audience of 11.4MM consumers,  digital uniques of 14.7MM, and 17.1MM social media followers.

About ILTM Cannes:

A global collection of invitation-only events that bring together leading international buyers and agents to discover and meet with the world’s most luxurious travel experiences. ILTM Cannes is the end-of-year show that is the place to be as the industry reveals exciting new itineraries, building business as well as lifelong bonds. 

ALG Vacations^® (ALGV), the nation’s leading leisure tour operator and part of the Apple Leisure Group family of companies, has honored Travelink as a 2022 ALGV Elite Diamond travel agency. This highly coveted honor is based on achieving exceptional sales in 2021 with ALG Vacations, whose highly respected brands include Apple Vacations, Funjet Vacations, Travel Impressions, Southwest Vacations, Blue Sky Tours, and United Vacations. Less than 10% of travel agencies nationwide selling leisure travel have been honored with the ALGV Elite distinction, which consists of several tiers: Sapphire / Sapphire Select, Emerald, and Diamond / Diamond Preferred.

“I would highly recommend agencies that have earned the status of ALGV Elite to any traveler in the market for a domestic or international vacation,” said ALGV’s Jim Tedesco, Vice President, Sales. “Achieving the required level of sales to be an ALGV Elite agency is a strong indicator that the agency not only is highly familiar with the ALG Vacations brands, but offers superior service, knowledgeable and experienced travel advisors, and a high percentage of client satisfaction,” he added.

ALGV Elite agencies are rewarded with a variety of benefits and perks from ALG Vacations, including in-resort training, exclusive promotional codes to pass on to their customers, and access to a VIP support desk, enabling them to deliver superior service to the end-consumer.

We are pleased to announce Travelink has once again been named an American Express Travel Representative Excellence Award Winner for 2019! This marks 21 consecutive years since joining the American Express Network that we have been recognized for outstanding sales and service as an American Express agency.

Further, the award recognizes Travelink’s engagement with American Express products and programs, concentrated efforts against Preferred Supplier goals, and continued dedication to representing the pillars of the American Express brand at the highest level.

For the 20th consecutive year, Travelink is honored to announce we were named one of American Express Travel's Representative Excellence Award Winners.

The Representative Excellence program was established to recognize the top 25 performing agencies in the Network who have most significantly contributed to its success. These recognized agencies have demonstrated concentrated efforts against Preferred Supplier goals, engagement with American Express products and programs, and a continued commitment to representing the pillars of the American Express brand.

For the 19th consecutive year, Travelink is honored to announce we were named one of American Express Travel's Representative Excellence Award Winners.

The Representative Excellence program was established to recognize the top 25 performing agencies in the Network who have most significantly contributed to its success. These recognized agencies have demonstrated concentrated efforts against Preferred Supplier goals, engagement with American Express products and programs, and a continued commitment to representing the pillars of the American Express brand.

Travelink, American Express Travel, has been recognized on the Nashville Business Journal’s “Fastest-Growing Private Companies in Nashville” list making it the sixth consecutive year the company has charted on the list.

To name the fastest-growing companies in Nashville for The List, Nashville Business Journal first ranked Nashville’s private companies by revenue in 2016 to determine the 100 largest. Of those 100, they then ranked the fastest-growing based on revenue growth from 2013 to 2016 and this year Travelink places at #41 on the list.

“Nashville is experiencing such a great growth market and Travelink is thankful to call it home for more than 20 years,” stated Michael S. Dixon, President of Travelink, American Express Travel. “The Nashville Business Journal’s recognition of our place in the growth of Nashville is a great testament to our fantastic team whose goal is always to deliver extraordinary experiences for our clients.”

Travelink, American Express Travel, is pleased to announce Vice President and Managing Partner, William Haire, has been awarded the Barbara O’Hara Advocacy Award.

The Barbara O’Hara Advocacy Award is awarded to two ASTA members who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in terms of their support for ASTA’s advocacy initiatives, grassroots campaigns, and ASTAPAC fundraising. Recipients are selected by ASTA staff members in consultation with award sponsor Sabre, and the ASTA Government & Political Affairs Committee

Regarding the award, Haire accounts, "The Travel Advisor is key to helping the consumer navigate the myriad of options and suppliers in the travel industry today. We advocate for all agencies and agents on the federal and local level to make sure the consumer is treated fairly without additional indirect taxes being leveled."

Pictured left to right: Samantha Brown, Canadian Travel Blogger; Eben Peck, Senior Vice President, Government & Public Affairs, American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA); Bill Haire, Vice President, Managing Partner, Travelink, American Express Travel; Michael Hanson, Senior Director / Government  & External Affairs, Sabre.

Travelink, American Express Travel, Tennessee’s only appointed American Express Travel Representative, is pleased to announce being named to Travel Weekly’s 2017 Power List for the sixth consecutive year.

The annual Power List, which ranks agencies that report annual travel sales in the previous year of $100 million or more, ranked Travelink number 50 for the third year in a row and it is the company’s sixth consecutive year on this prestigious list.

“Our team at Travelink is focused on extraordinary customer service and a continued commitment to excellence when managing and planning travel for our clients. Our inclusion in Travel Weekly’s Power List over the past six years further validates how strong a team we have assembled over the last 20 years.  We are so appreciative of each and every individual who has been a part of making our continued success possible,” emphasizes Michael S. Dixon, President and Managing Partner of Travelink, American Express Travel.

Travelink also congratulates its partners at American Express Global Business Travel for ranking in the top three and American Express Travel & Lifestyle Services for their top 10 placements. To read more about Travel Weekly’s 2017 Power List click here.

Travelink, American Express Travel is pleased to announce our Manager of Meetings, Association Management, & Groups, Lindsay Buchanan, has been awarded the Cvent Advocate of the Year title and has also completed her Cvent Event Management Advanced certification.

The Cvent Advocate of the Year award is given to the person who most contributed throughout the year to Cvent's product suite innovation through feedback, guest speaking, and participation positively impacting all Cvent users. In addition to this prestigious honor, Lindsay's completion of the Cvent Event Management Advanced certification will improve her department's efficiency within the Cvent tools and elevate Travelink's Meetings, Association Management & Groups business. Cvent Certification provides an opportunity for planners to demonstrate their expertise of the Cvent Event Management planning software. Professional and Advanced levels of certification are offered for Cvent Event Management users.

The Cvent Advocate of the Year Award and Cvent Advanced Certification were announced and rolled out, respectively, at the 2017 Cvent CONNNECT event in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Hotel. A total of 60 individuals registered for the Advanced Certification; 93% of which completed the certification. Cvent certification is designed for the most successful and proficient users who manage one or more events annually.

Travelink, American Express Travel is pleased to announce our Manager of Meetings, Association Management, & Groups, Lindsay Buchanan, has been recognized in the Connect Corporate Magazine’s 40 Under 40 Spring 2017 issue.

Connect Corporate is a national B2B print and digital magazine providing resources and ideas to planners and suppliers in the corporate meetings industry.

Nominations were received from around the world, then reviewed and evaluated by Connect Corporate’s editorial staff based on references, achievements, industry involvement and other attributes.

These individuals represented in our annual 40 Under 40 are the future of the corporate meetings industry,” said Chris Collinson, president and CEO of Connect. “They together with colleagues and industry partners, are elevating the profession and moving it forward.” The full list can be viewed here.

Lindsay Buchanan, CMP, is a Certified Meeting Planner and Manager at Travelink, American Express Travel for the past six years. She maintains a close working relationship with Cvent and is the registration site programmer for various associations, as well as the exhibit hall manager. She utilizes technology and social media to enhance communication before, during, or after events. You can find Lindsay's profile page on the 40 Under 40 List here.

About Connect
Connect is a leader in the meetings, travel and tourism industry. Specializing in destination marketing, the company produces digital programs, online and mobile solutions, meetings business and travel magazines, trade shows and consumer events, travel guides for newspapers and leisure magazines, and destination information, which is distributed through broadcast and custom programs. More information about the company's brands and services is available at connectmeetings.com.

Travelink, American Express Travel, is pleased to announce that during the annual American Express Travel Global Forum, held at the Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort in Phoenix, the company was named Agency of the Year.

Every year, American Express Travel presents a Representative member with the Agency of the Year award. Agencies that receive this recognition exhibit exemplary values, service and performance. The Agency of the Year award is given to an agency that provides exceptional service and value to customers, always upholding the values and standards of the American Express brand.

Contributing to the selection of Travelink for the recognition this year included the company’s unique engagement level for the Gold Card Member travel services program, active participation in several influential industry advisory boards, including American Express Travel, Departures Magazine, Travel + Leisure Magazine, Trump Hotels, Sabre, and ASTA CAC where Michael Dixon, President & Managing Partner of Travelink, was recently appointed to the leadership role of Secretary, serving three successive 2-year terms ending as CAC Chairman.

Michael Dixon accepted the award from American Express EVP & GM, Claire Bennett and Vice President of American Express Travel, Tanuj Suri, Vice President, American Express Travel. “I am grateful for this public acknowledgement recognizing Travelink.  This tremendous honor is a culmination of the collaborative efforts of our entire team.” says Mr. Dixon

Travelink was also recognized as Agency of the Year in 2011.

Travelink, American Express Travel, ranked #50 on the Travel Weekly 2016 Power List, is pleased to
announce that Linda Raymer, President, Vacation Travel and Sandy Schadler, Vice President, Marketing made Travel + Leisure's 15th Annual A-List.

The T+L A-List showcases the best specialists in the business—destination authorities, honeymoon planners, family-reunion whizzes, cruise experts—helping take client trips to the next level. This year the A-List featured 137 individuals, two coming from the Travelink, American Express Travel's Nashville headquarters.

Raymer is featured in the Europe Experts portion of the A-List for her creative approach to must-see destinations and tried-and-true itineraries, like touring London in a Mini Cooper or taking a personalized walking tour through the city's up-and-coming neighborhoods.

As President of the Vacation Division of Travelink, Linda has developed the luxury division of our leisure business, Privileged Journeys, which enjoys continued growth ahead of plan. Linda formerly owned her own agency, WorldClass Travel, which was acquired by Travelink, American Express Travel in 2000. During her time as an agency owner and now in her current role at Travelink, Linda has served on the American Express CTN Advisory board as well as the American Express Vacations Advisory Board and the Departures Luxury Council. 

Sandy Schadler, Vice President, Marketing is featured in the Travel + Leisure Advisory Board portion of the A-List. The Travel + Leisure Advisory Board is a select group of owners and operators of the country's most important travel agencies. They share with T+L editors and advertisers their expert opinions on the latest developments in the travel industry and their read on ever-evolving consumer trends.

Sandy is responsible for executing a digital, social, mobile, CRM, traditional media and regional advertising strategy for Travelink and its sub-brands, Employee Vacation Programs and Privileged Journeys, across a national network of retail and virtual offices. In addition to her advisory board position for Travel + Leisure magazine she is also sits on the advisory board for the German National Tourism Office in the USA.

Travelink, American Express Travel, Tennessee’s only appointed American Express Travel Representative, is pleased to announce being named to Travel Weekly’s 2016 Power List.

The annual Power List, which ranks agencies that report annual travel sales in the previous year of $100 million or more, ranked Travelink number 50 for the second year in a row and it is the company’s fourth consecutive year on this prestigious list.

 “Our team at Travelink is focused on extraordinary customer service and a continued commitment to excellence when managing and planning travel for our clients. Our inclusion in Travel Weekly’s Power List over the past four years further validates how strong a team we have assembled over the last 20 years.  We are so appreciative of each and every individual who has been a part of making our continued success possible,” emphasizes Michael S. Dixon, President and Managing Partner of Travelink, American Express Travel.

Travelink also congratulates its partners at American Express Global Business Travel for ranking in the top three and American Express Travel & Lifestyle Services for their top 10 placement. To read more about Travel Weekly’s 2016 Power List click here.

For the 17th consecutive year, Travelink is honored to announce we were named one of American Express Travel's Representative Excellence Award Winners! The Representative Excellence program was established to recognize the top 17 performing agencies in the Network who have most significantly contributed to its success. These recognized agencies have demonstrated concentrated efforts against Preferred Supplier goals, engagement with American Express products and programs, and a continued commitment to representing the pillars of the American Express brand.