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Unique Cruise Solutions The news you need to know |
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Cruise News for the Corporate Travel Professional |
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CLIA Hall of Fame to Induct Zarmati, Funks, Andersons |
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Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) announced the
inductees into the 2012 Cruise Industry Hall of Fame. They are
 Maurice
Zarmati - (left) a cruise
industry pioneer who held senior positions with Carnival Cruise Lines and Costa
Cruises, Sherrie and Charlie Funk of Just Cruisin’ Plus in Nashville, and Brad
and Van Anderson, co-presidents of Avoya Travel/American Express. They will be
honored on April 28 during the Hall of Fame Gala Dinner at cruise3sixty in Fort
Lauderdale.Now in its eighth year, the Cruise Industry Hall of Fame honors individuals who made a significant contribution to the cruise industry. They are selected based on nominations from CLIA’s membership. The 2012 inductees were chosen in three categories: cruise line executive, cruise retailer, and cruise sales innovator, a new category this year. Zarmati recently retired after 43 years working for Carnival Cruise Lines and Costa Cruises, and now is a consultant for sales, marketing and passenger traffic initiatives for Costa. Born in Egypt to an Italian father and French mother, Zarmati and his family emigrated from his birthplace to Genoa, Italy, in 1956 and to the U.S. in 1959. Already fluent in Italian, French and Arabic, he became proficient in English, and eventually added Spanish. The day he graduated from college, Zarmati joined Arison Shipping and two years later was working for company founder Ted Arison on the original team that created Carnival Cruise Lines. Zarmati served as southeast regional sales manager from 1973 until his promotion to director of sales in 1979. He was named vice president of sales in 1987. At Costa, Zarmati was president and CEO for North America before retiring in November 2011. Zarmati has also served on the board of directors of the Fiduciary Trust International of the South, Boy Scouts of America and the National Safety Council. In 2011-12 he chaired the gala committee for the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts. He is also past president of the Executives’ Association of Greater Miami and he is involved with United Way of Miami-Dade County. A member of the Travel Industry Association of America, Zarmati is a certified travel counselor and serves on the marketing committee of the American Society of Travel Agents.  As
co-owners of Just Cruisin’ Plus, Tennessee’s first cruise-only agency, Sherrie
and Charlie Funk are also producers of one of the largest consumer cruise and
vacation shows in the Southeast, nationally recognized speakers and trainers in
the travel industry, and the authors of numerous books on the travel industry
business. They are also founders and administrators of “Travel Agency Best
Practices,” a Facebook group forum for travel retailers. Their company has
earned several honors, including sales awards from the industry’s largest cruise
lines, Carnival Cruise Lines’ Agency of the Year, and recognition for cruise and
travel promotions.A finalist for Godmother of Liberty of the Seas, Sherrie Funk is an advisory board member of Vacation.com and past president of numerous organizations including the Nashville chapter of the National Association of Women’s Business Owners, Nashville Women in Travel, and the board of governors of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. She has served on the advisory board of Premier Cruise Line and on the advertising advisory board of The Tennessean. Charlie Funk joined Just Cruisin’ full-time in 1993. He has served on advisory boards for CLIA, Vacation.com, several cruise lines and CruiseLink. He is the past president of the Nashville chapter of SKAL International and currently serves on the advisory board for Norwegian Cruise Line. He also serves on the advisory boards for Hospitality and Tourism Academies at Glencliff and Hunter’s Lane high schools in Nashville. Prior to joining the agency he worked in research and development in the aerospace and synthetic fiber industries.  Brad (left) and Van Anderson (below right), co-Presidents of Avoya Travel/American Express, have helped build one of the world’s leading travel companies. Their parents, Pal and Pat Anderson, entered the travel business in the 1960s while Brad and  Van
were still in grade school.Through innovation and patent-pending technology, Avoya has created a network of over 500 independently owned and operated agencies (Avoya Independent Affiliates). The Andersons’ approach of integrating technology and people has substantially increased the efficiency of travel sellers, while at the same time improving the experience for customers worldwide. All this has resulted in a profitable, fast-growing global brand with annual sales over $200 million. The Andersons and Avoya have received accolades, including being named Travel Agency of the Year a record three times by Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, American Express, Oceania Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises and Brendan Vacations. Brad and Van have also been featured for their technology, Live Leads program, and leadership in travel by industry publications, including Agent@Home and Vacation Agent. Both Brad and Van serve on numerous industry advisory boards and are active supporters of several domestic and international charities. |
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Worldwide Travel & Cruise Assoc., Inc. 150 S. University Dr. Ste E, Plantation, FL 33324 - USA Tel: +1 954 452 8800 Fax: +1 954 252 3945 EMail: sales@cruiseco.com |
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