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VIRTUOSO® ADVISOR MARGRET PROPPER NAMED ON 2009 TRAVEL + LEISURE "A-LIST"
Birmingham's Own Margret Propper Recognized as Top Travel Agent by Prominent Magazine
New York, NY (October 21, 2009) - In its October issue, available now on newsstands, Travel + Leisure magazine reveals the top travel agents in the world, including Margret Propper from Brownell Travel, a member of leading travel network Virtuoso ®. For the 8th annual "A-List," Margret was one of only 129 top travel agents selected by Travel + Leisure editors, who evaluated hundreds of candidates for this highly selective guide. The prestigious list organizes the agents by area of specialization and includes their years of experience and consulting fees. Margret appears in the Alaska category, and received this recognition based on 35 years of experience with travel to Alaska. Virtuoso travel experts accounted for 76 of these 129 top agents - nearly 60 percent of the list. The complete 2009 A-List is available on www.travelandleisure.com.
"We are proud that Virtuoso experts, like Margret Propper, have the honor of being named the best in their field by Travel + Leisure's very knowledgeable editorial team," said Matthew D. Upchurch, CEO of Virtuoso. "Margret is representative of the more than 6,000 Virtuoso advisors whose efforts change people's lives through the experience of travel. Those who travel with Margret do so with confidence and enjoy the collaboration and 'Return on Life™' that comes from working with a Virtuoso advisor."
Travel + Leisure Editor-in-Chief Nancy Novogrod said, "Given the complications of life these days, along with the abundant opportunities to travel well at a good price, an experienced travel agent can make a huge difference. Our A-List Guide is a terrific resource for interesting travels--and stress reduction."
Travel + Leisure's "A-List" agents also shared their insights on current travel habits and preferences. Some highlights include:
- More families are taking multigenerational vacations to Africa, Southern Europe (Tuscany and Provence), and Greece, despite the economic turndown;
- T+L A-Listers cite the growing appeal of train travel around the world, in places such as Australia, Russia, and Kenya;
- Travel deals may not be this good again for a long time. Top five value destinations include: Chile, Argentina, Australia, South Africa, and Switzerland.
Whether it is a seat on a sold-out flight, booking the preferred corner room with a view, or mapping out a complicated itinerary, these "A-List" agents, including Margret, can make travelers' most difficult requests possible. For more information on traveling under the guidance of an "A-List" agent, contact Margret Propper from Brownell Travel at 205-414-7109 or margretp@brownelltravel.com.
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About Brownell Travel
Brownell Travel, founded in 1887 and headquartered in Birmingham, AL, is the oldest retail travel agency in North America. For more than a century, the travel advisors of Brownell have dedicated themselves to providing their clients with exceptional travel experiences. The personal relationship between advisor and client has been a hallmark of Brownell for more than a century. Beyond travel agents, Brownell's advisors are recognized as the very best by the leading travel authorities and magazines for their supreme expertise, experience and highest professional standards. In addition, Brownell's innovative Hosting and Mentoring programs are leading the industry for developing top-notch luxury travel advisors. To learn more about Brownell, visit us on the web at www.brownelltravel.com.
About Virtuoso
Virtuoso® is the industry's leading luxury travel network. This by-invitation-only organization comprises over 300 agencies with more than 6,000 elite travel specialists in 22 countries in North and South America, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand, as well as over 1,000 of the world's best travel providers and premier destinations. The network's member agencies generate over $5.1 billion annually in travel sales, making the group the most powerful in the luxury travel segment. Their relationships with the finest travel companies provide the network's affluent clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. Virtuoso is the exclusive network of travel services and benefits provided by MasterCard® for participating World Elite MasterCard® programs. For more information, please visit www.virtuoso.com.
About Travel + Leisure
Travel + Leisure and its website www.travelandleisure.com propel readers to travel now, travel smarter, and travel often. With an eye for the authentic, the innovative, and the irresistible, T+L fuses expert reporting on style, culture, food, and design with stunning photography to transport its readers to the places-and the experiences-that matter most. The long-standing authority in its field, Travel + Leisure has the largest, most affluent audience of any travel magazine and is an indispensable read for today's global citizen. Travel + Leisure has a network of international editions, including Travel + Leisure Mexico, Travel + Leisure Australia/New Zealand, Travel + Leisure Turkey, Travel + Leisure China, Travel + Leisure South Asia, and Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia.Media Contacts:
Haisley Smith
Marketing Director, Brownell Travel
205-414-7175
Email: haisleys@brownelltravel.com
Misty Ewing
Virtuoso - Director, Public Relations
Ph: 212.588.8242 or m: 206.484.8022
Email: mewing@virtuoso.com
Elizabeth Marsh / Rachael Chappa
Travel + Leisure
Ph: 212.382.5684 / 212.642.1972
Email: elizabeth.c.marsh@aexp.com / rachael.e.chappa@aexp.com
