Angela Hughes joins The Travel Institute’s Board of Directors

The Travel Institute has appointed Angela Hughes, CTC, CEO of Trips & Ships Luxury Travel, to its Board of Directors.

“I am thrilled that Angela has joined our diverse and dynamic board. Well-known and even more well-regarded, Angela is a ‘been there, done that’ travel practitioner turned industry thought leader and influencer,” said Gary Pollard, CTC, chair for The Travel Institute Board of Directors and president and CEO, Ambassador Tours, in a press release.

“There is no doubt, her hard-earned insights, extensive experience, and endless energy will contribute immensely to The Travel Institute’s mission of continuously elevating industry professionalism.”

An industry veteran with 40+ years of experience, Hughes is globally recognized, transforming her entrepreneurial travel agency into a multi-million-dollar enterprise specializing in “premium to ultra-high-net-worth” travel experiences and with more than 150 advisors today, the organization said. 

Hughes is also founder of Luxury Travel University, a private consulting and training platform designed to help travel professionals, suppliers and hospitality groups scale their businesses in the competitive luxury market.

“Education is the cornerstone of a thriving travel industry and as the industry’s established education leader, The Travel Institute has a storied history—elevating professional standards and empowering advisors over more than six decades through training, certification, and leadership development. As someone who has spent decades myself to mentor, teach, and build luxury advisor education, I’m passionate about contributing at an even greater level to an organization that truly shares my drive for excellence,” stated Hughes, also a member of The Travel Institute’s Professional Educators Program.

With both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Travel and Tourism/Geography, Hughes has served as an adjunct professor at Brigham Young University and BYU Pathway Worldwide. She has spoken at several major travel conferences, including ASTA, CruiseWorld and more.

The 2024 Influencer of the Year for Travel Leaders, Hughes is a 3-time Magellan winner with Travel Weekly, authors a weekly column for Insider Travel Report, and has been featured in numerous travel publications.

Further underscoring her volunteerism mindset, Hughes serves on ASTA’s education and political action committees, the Brigham Young University National Advisory Council, the BYU Pathway President’s Leadership Council, and the Travel Leaders Network Advisory Board.

“I am truly excited to be a board member with The Travel Institute, shaping the future of travel advisor education and ensuring our next generation of professionals is well equipped with the skills, integrity and innovation needed in an ever-evolving marketplace,” Hughes stated.

The Travel Institute’s Board currently includes:

Rick Baron, CTC, former Managing Director, Global Sales, Tauck, Inc.

Laurie Bohn-Isaure, CTIE, Senior Director, National Accounts, Silversea

David Chait, CTIE, CEO and founder of Travefy, Inc.; Board Vice Chair

Drew Daly, CTIE, Senior Vice President & General Manager – WTH/Dream Vacations

Jackie Friedman, CTIE, President, Nexion Travel Group

Angela Hughes, CTC, CEO, Trips & Ships Luxury Travel

Rick Meadows, CTC, former President, Seabourn Cruise Line

Evan McElligott, CTA, President, Longer Vacations; Board Executive Committee Member

Alex Pinelo, CTIE, Chief Sales Officer, AmaWaterways

Gary Pollard, CTC, President and CEO, Ambassador Tours; Board Chair

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Jill Romano, CTA, Owner, Dimensions in Travel

Board members for The Travel Institute volunteer their time and expertise to support the education leader’s mission to advance industry professionalism.