Every New Year, I sit down with my kids and ask them to come up with one New Year’s resolution. Then, at intervals throughout the year, I’ll remind them of what they promised and, like any good father, review their progress. I tell them that if they accomplish their goal, at the end of the year they will be handsomely rewarded—I even let them negotiate the reward (they love this)! Of course, it usually takes a few rounds of haggling before we settle on something realistic. Hey, good for them for trying!
I have three questions for you: What’s your resolution? Can you stick to it? Can you accomplish it? Oh—and maybe most important—don’t forget to give yourself a reward.
For those of you who missed this past Luxury Travel Expo, you missed the best one yet. It all began with Luxury Travel Advisor’s Awards of Excellence, where the ultra-luxury travel community comes together to find out who you, the readers, voted for. What I’m most proud of is all the money we raised for our internship program, which places young people who are interested in a career in travel into your workplaces. Most media companies use awards as a way to make money; we use it as way of giving back. We also recognized one up-and-coming agent who is quickly on the path to luxury advisor stardom: Elizabeth Jenkins of McCabe World Travel (she is pictured here with me at the Awards of Excellence ceremony).
The first Young Leaders Conference also launched at Luxury Travel Expo, and it proved to be a huge success. A total of 120 travel advisors under the age of 40 gathered to share information among each other, on topics that influence their business. They also found common ground.
By now, you probably figured out what my New Year’s resolution was last year—nurturing and helping out young travel agents. And, yes, I rewarded myself with a trip to Jamaica with my wife and a holiday at home with family and friends.
May you accomplish what you set out to in 2011; I look forward to hearing from you along the way.