Today we’d like to introduce you to Brad and Jeff Tolkin.
Brad and Jeff Tolkin serve as Co-Chairmen/Co-CEOs of World Travel Holdings. They each have more than 30 years of experience as an operating executive in the travel industry. Prior to co-founding World Travel Holdings in 2005, the Tolkins owned and operated Travel Impressions, one of the country’s most successful privately held travel wholesalers. Under the Tolkins’ leadership, Travel Impressions was profitable for 22 consecutive years and successfully operated such prestigious industry brands as Pan American Holidays, Eastern Vacations, Continental Vacations, and Virgin Atlantic Vacations. In 1992, the Tolkins acquired Empress Travel, a retail travel agency with 40 stores, and expanded the chain to include more than 100 locations.
Travel Impressions and Empress Travel were both sold to American Express in 1998.
During the Tolkins’ tenure at American Express, they successfully transitioned both operations to wholly owned subsidiaries of American Express®.
Brad and Jeff were elected to the Cruise Line International Association Hall of Fame in 2014.
Brad holds a BS from Cornell University, and Jeff holds a BA from Columbia College and a JD from Columbia Law School.
Has it been a smooth road?
“Our dad was embezzled for all he was worth when we were 11 and 12 years old. We worked together as a family to rebuild the business. We stuffed envelopes for group mailings, filed brochures, cleaned the office… we did whatever it took. This gave us drive and a sense of accomplishment at a young age.” – Jeff Tolkin
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the World Travel Holdings story. Tell us more about the business.
World Travel Holdings is the world’s largest cruise agency and award-winning leisure travel company with a portfolio of more than 40 diverse brands. In addition to owning some of the largest brands distributing cruises, villas, hotels, resort vacations, cars and luxury travel services, World Travel Holdings has a vast portfolio of licensed private label partnerships comprised of top leisure travel providers, including almost every U.S. airline, leading hotel brands and prominent corporations. The company also operates a top-rated travel agency franchise and the country’s original host agency, and is consistently recognized as an industry leader in work-at-home employment. Its global presence includes operating multiple cruise and vacation brands in the United Kingdom. World Travel Holdings has offices in Wilmington, Mass.; Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Virginia Beach, Va.; New York, NY; and Chorley and Southampton, England.
“We are the largest cruise distributor in the world and have a growing villa business. We are most proud of our employees and the culture that has earned us a spot as one of Achievers 50 most engaged companies to work in North America seven years in a row.” – Jeff Tolkin
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The world changes every day – that is what makes it fun. As a company, we are evolving rapidly with substantial investments in technology so we stay at the edge of change.
Americans appear to value experiences over tangible goods. Travel is the ultimate experience, and thus we are supremely optimistic about our future.
As an employer, we are committed to fostering a culture of team work, pride and passion, and we want to ensure that younger people recognize travel as a promising and rewarding career.
Contact Info:
- Address: 100 Fordham Rd., Building C Wilmington, MA 01887
- Website: www.WorldTravelHoldings.com
- Phone: 617-424-7990
- Email: media@wth.com
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