If you’ve been in the travel industry for any length of time, you’ve most likely heard of Valerie Wilson. Wilson, who is the founder, CEO, chairman and owner of Valerie Wilson Travel, is so well-known amongst luxury suppliers that many call upon her to advise them as they explore how to improve their offerings . 

And what once started as a three-person business in 1981 has since grown to encompass more than 300 associates across 12 U.S. offices.  

In this episode of Humans of Travel, Wilson gives listeners a taste of her life beyond, and before, travel. We’ll hear about Wilson’s early years working in New York City’s fashion scene as a designer and model. She’ll describe the moment she fell in love with travel — during her honeymoon to Spain in 1967 — and her subsequent foray into the travel industry as a travel advisor.  

Wilson will also talk about the ins and outs of running her business alongside her two daughters — Jennifer Wilson-Buttigieg and Kimberly Wilson Wetty — and what she envisions for the future of the agency now that it’s joined forces with FROSCH.  

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Valerie Wilson Travel: www.valeriewilsontravel.com

Valerie Wilson's World: The Top Hotels & Resorts (Second Edition)

FROSCH: www.frosch.com

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is Senior Editor of TravelAge West, a print and online magazine for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. 

TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum. 

ABOUT THE SHOW 

TravelAge West’s podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the experiences — the highs and the lows — that make them human. 

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