“Since joining Travel Leaders 19 years ago, Tom and Pat’s business has expanded from a single branch location to 11 branches spread across the U.S.,” said John Lovell, CTC, President of Travel Leaders Network and Leisure Group. “Through a tremendous amount of hard work and dedication they have achieved remarkable success and embody the true meaning of entrepreneurialism.”

VanFossen and Carlsen formed a partnership in 1982. Carlsen is CEO and VanFossen is president of the New York-based Travel Leaders branch, Envision Travel Holdings, Inc., which has been a member of the Travel Leaders Network since 1999. Under their joint leadership, their agency has grown via an aggressive agency acquisition agenda with locations across the United States from New York City to Seattle, Washington.

“Tom and Pat have had a high-level of active participation in a number of Travel Leaders Network programs, services, training and educational opportunities throughout the years, which has been a strong contributor to their success,” added Roger E. Block, CTC, President of Travel Leaders Network. “Additionally, Tom has served as a member of the Franchisee Advisory Board, as a panelist on numerous leadership and regional meetings, and both Tom and Pat have generously shared their experience, advice and counsel to other members over the years. I am very proud to honor them with this well-deserved Golden Legacy award.”

To be eligible for the Golden Legacy award, the recipient must also have been named a 2018 “Agency of Excellence.” Only 26 franchisees nationally were honored with that distinction this year. To earn the “Agency of Excellence” designation, Travel Leaders agencies are scored in several categories that reflect business growth, utilization of marketing programs to effectively reach local consumers, participation in key local and national business networking meetings, and in training programs to enhance service to their clients, as well as their overall promotion of the Travel Leaders brand.

To learn more, visit travelleaders.com/nyc or go here. “Travel Better” with Travel Leaders.

Travel Leaders Network (www.TravelLeaders.com), assists millions of leisure and business travelers annually, and is one of the largest sellers of luxury travel, cruises and tours in the travel agency industry. Representing approximately 6,800 travel agency locations across the United States and Canada. Travel Leaders Network’s award-winning Agent Profiler agent locator, marketing, technology, supplier partnerships and educational programs empower member agencies to differentiate themselves in the marketplace, grow their business and lead the industry. Travel Leaders Network is a Travel Leaders Group LLC company.

2018: Year of the Travel Agent

Travel Leaders Group has named 2018 Year of the Travel Agent. Over the last decade, the travel agency industry has flourished through technology, the growth of travel options and personalized service. Travel Leaders Group represents approximately 52,000 travel agents with unmatched expertise in 135,000 destinations and more than 53,000 areas of interest. Travelers and suppliers have rediscovered the value a professional travel advisor delivers to the travel experience. Travel agents help to move people around the world, and keep our economy growing. #YearoftheTravelAgent