Search Travel Market Report

mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com
U.S.A.
English
Canada
English
Canada Quebec
Français
  • News
  • Packaged Travel
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Air
  • Training & Resources
  • Luxury Travel Report

Headquarter Happenings: Brownell Academy Convenes Over 350 Travel Professionals in New Orleans

by Briana Bonfiglio  November 14, 2023
Headquarter Happenings: Brownell Academy Convenes Over 350 Travel Professionals in New Orleans

Networking session at Brownell Academy 2023. Photo: Briana Bonfiglio / TMR

More than 350 people gathered at Four Seasons New Orleans for Brownell Academy, an annual event bringing together the entire Brownell Travel company and community, from Nov. 5 to 7.  

Ninety-four of Brownell’s 125 independent contractors across the United States, as well as IC staff, Brownell employees, and partner suppliers, attended the networking event and celebratory awards dinner, making it the largest Brownell Academy in the event’s 18-year history.  

“I love it because we’re all here together connecting in person, meeting all the new advisors, and we’re here with our favorite partners that we work with,” Mimi Lichtenstein, owner of Truvay Travel in Hanover, N.H., told TMR. “Some of those people I may never have met in person.” 

Mary Gallo, of Explora Journeys, added that the event was “a fabulous few days of networking and fun. I always love spending time with the stellar advisors that make up the Brownell family.” 

Founded in 1887, Brownell celebrates its 136th anniversary this year. The luxury travel host agency is known for its rigorous one-year mentoring program and support teams who help professionals launch and grow their travel agency businesses. 

Brownell presented the event in a new format this year by inviting suppliers to the awards dinner and allowing more time for advisors to connect with suppliers. There were supplier breakfasts in the mornings, while afternoons were filled with series of 8-minute networking sessions. Brownell also offered Mastermind coaching for advisors’ staff. 

Brownell President and CEO Troy Haas and Virtuoso CEO Matthew Upchurch delivered remarks during the awards dinner, both noting how far the travel advisor profession has progressed in the past 30 years, when Haas first joined the company. Haas has now become the sole owner of Brownell starting just this year. 

“The ‘good jobs’ used to be on the partner side, and the agent side was not as fulfilling or professional, but we transformed this industry,” Haas said. “We’ve been part of that, and the industry has changed. Like having a financial planner, you have a travel advisor to invest in the most important thing you have, which is time away with those you love, and it is so amazing.”   

The awards dinner recognized 80 Brownell travel advisors in three different categories, depending on sales they made over the past year. The awards begin at $1 million in sales, and 33 advisors received the highest award, averaging $4.15 million in sales. 

“It’s fun to celebrate because there’s a lot of us who work really hard, and I think it’s nice to have that at different levels,” Lichenstein said. “So it’s not just the top-top producers that are recognized. It’s different tiers.” 

David Barclay, an advisor who completed Brownell’s mentoring program this year, achieved more than $1 million in sales this year to receive the Devonian Award. He noted that the recognition is “confirmation that you know what you’re doing” for someone like him who is new to the industry. 

This year’s Brownell Academy also included an after party hosted by Four Seasons, a lunch sponsored by Silversea, and awards celebration sponsored by Belmond, Oceania, Seabourn, and UJV. 

Each of the award recipients will be treated to a trip in 2024. In addition, Kerry Dyer, Brownell’s chief development officer, announced that the next Brownell Academy will be hosted at Four Seasons Chicago in March 2025. 

  
  
Related Articles
Four Seasons Hotels Sets Its Sights on Charleston
Four Seasons Unveils 2027 Private Jet Itineraries
Expedia TAAP Celebrates Global Travel Advisor Day with Event Series
Win a Trip on Quark Expeditions’ with Arctic Sweepstakes
Headquarter Happenings: From Mentoring to Sales Support, Brownell Charts a New Course for Advisors
Wealthy Travelers Aren’t Cutting Back—They’re Just Booking Differently
Gifted Travel Network on Trevello Deal: ‘Philosophy Was So Aligned’
Budgeting vs. Upselling: How Travel Advisors Strike a Balance
Anguilla Aims to Boosts Tourism with New Direct Routes from Canada and an Advisor Program
Four Seasons Miami Debuts ‘White Lotus’-Inspired Cabanas

MOST VIEWED

  1. La Liste Reveals Top 10 Hotels in the World for 2025
  2. Travel Leaders Network President John Lovell to Depart for Cruise Role
  3. Delta Air Lines Clarifies Schedule Change Policy for Travel Agencies
  4. Hilton Rewards Reservations Canceled Amid Transition of Playa Hotels to Hyatt
  5. Certares Takes Full Ownership of Avoya Travel, Andersons Depart
  6. American Airlines Launches First Touchless ID Lanes


  1. Former Virgin Voyages Head of Sales John Diorio Lands New Role at Celestyal
  2. Delta Is Now Requiring Agencies to Acknowledge and Accept Schedule Changes in PNR
  3. 8 Things to Know About Azamara Cruises
  4. Overtourism Backlash Heats Up in Europe as Summer Season Kicks Off
  5. Xanterra Travel Collection Names New CIO & Corporate Director of Sales
  6. Here Are All the New Cruise Ships Coming in 2026, 2027, and Beyond
TMR Subscription

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth luxury coverage, analysis of luxury news, luxury trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

Top Stories
U.S. Issues Travel Alerts for Myanmar & Thailand Following Earthquakes
U.S. Issues Travel Alerts for Myanmar & Thailand Following Earthquakes

On Friday, March 28, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Burma in Myanmar, with tremors felt in neighboring Thailand and China.

MSC Cruises Takes Delivery of World America
MSC Cruises Takes Delivery of World America

MSC is also celebrating the coin ceremony for MSC World Asia and steel cutting for the MSC World Atlantic.

U.S. Secretary of State Promises to Reevaluate Jamaica Travel Warning
U.S. Secretary of State Promises to Reevaluate Jamaica Travel Warning

The U.S. State Department has told Americans to “reconsider” travel to Jamaica since July 2024.

Canada Issues New Travel Warning for U.S. Over New Entry Rules
Canada Issues New Travel Warning for U.S. Over New Entry Rules

The advisory targets new entry and exit requirements for Canadians traveling to the U.S.

Britain & Germany Issue Travel Warnings for U.S.
Britain & Germany Issue Travel Warnings for U.S.

The U.K. and Germany have updated their travel advisories for the U.S. following the detainment of three German citizens at the border.

Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner Resigns
Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner Resigns

Gardner has served as president of Amtrak since 2020, and as CEO since 2022.

TMR OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
View All
industry spotlight
https://img.youtube.com/vi/F3tnroIkhTQ/0.jpg
Mitsui Ocean Cruises, Beautiful Encounters with Japan
Advertiser's Voice
The Collette Premium Experience
About Travel Market Report Mission Meet the Team Advisory Board Advertise Syndication Guidelines
TMR Resources Calendar of Events Outlook/Whitepapers Previous Sponsored Articles Previous This Week Articles
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
71 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
© 2005 - 2025 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Manage cookie preferences