Julie Davidson
Brooklyn,NY
Summary
Well traveled, seasoned tourism professional with expertise in: product development, itinerary planning, operations, marketing, management, training, negotiations and budgeting. A natural communicator, I'm a dedicated, hard working, enthusiastic team player.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Consultant
ViaTour Software
06.2020 - Current
- Writing and editing of help menu subjects that accompanies travel software program.
- Testing of new online booking products.
- Training new clients on using the software.
Marketing and Operations Manager
Journeys by Exotic
01.2019 - 03.2020
- Responsible for all marketing actions of startup including e-blasts and attending trade shows.
- Responded to client inquiries creating and pricing customized itineraries worldwide.
Manager, Agency Relations
Offshore Outpost Expeditions
09.2017 - 07.2018
- Promoted new 'adventure yachting' company to travel advisor community via webinars, sales calls, fam trips and cold calling putting Offshore Outpost on the map with the travel adviser community.
- Worked closely with director of marketing on the creation of all collateral.
Web Content and Tour Guide Manager
TopView Sightseeing
01.2016 - 08.2017
- Responsible for managing a roster of over fifty tour guides including recruitment, training, performance reviews and scheduling.
- Created all content for pre-recorded GPS triggered guiding on buses that replaced live guides on six different routes.
- Wrote content for newly launched website.
Product Development
Gate 1 Travel
08.2015 - 11.2015
- Respond to all questions, deal with both internal and external problems and crises as they arise.
- Communicate with ground operators to plan programming in the U.S and abroad.
Trade/Travel Manager
Visit Flanders (Belgium) Tourist Office
04.2009 - 07.2014
- Created marketing plan and allocated $200,000 budget for all trade activities aimed at tour operators and travel agents.
- Designed and executed 4-5 FAM trips to Belgium per year for travel agents and tour operators.
- Negotiated barter agreements with numerous partners such as Delta, Air Canada, Jet Airways and American Airlines as well as Rocco Forte, Hilton, Kempinski and Radisson hotels to execute fam trips.
- Maintained close relationships with local Belgian suppliers including hotels, DMCs, attractions and local tourist offices.
- Managed and expanded relationships with tour operators, travel agents and consortia including Virtuoso and Signature representing organization at all consortia events including Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas.
- Developed online learning platform for Virtuoso. Conducted monthly online Webinars for US and Canadian markets with an average attendance of 100 travel advisors per Webinar.
- Created trade page on website featuring tour operators with programming to destination and wrote trade e-newsletters distributed to a database of 4,000 agents monthly.
- Provided editorial and advertorial content to trade publications for both online and print platforms.
Assistant Director of Operations
American Museum of Natural History
04.2007 - 01.2009
- Directly responsible for operation of all travel programs.
- Managed reservations staff.
- Monitored and controlled allotment for maximization of bookings.
- Collaborated with tour operators to design and select trip programming.
- Oversaw all insurance operations.
- Responsible for maintenance and improvement of in-house computer system.
- Monitored worldwide security situations for upcoming and on-site programs.
Operations/Office Manager
ARZA WORLD
01.2006 - 01.2007
- Responsible for day to day running of Tour Operator's office, including paying bills and payroll.
- Supervised reservations and operations staff.
- Interviewed and hired new staff including salary negotiations.
- Developed new product.
- Resolved customer service issues and complaints.
- Improved operating procedures including reporting from reservations system.
- Managed air inventory.
- Determined guaranteed departures, managed and finalized ad hoc groups and created final documents.
Manager of Operations
PACIFIC DELIGHT WORLD TOURS
01.2004 - 01.2006
- Responsible for day to day running of the office overseeing reservations and operations staff.
- Interviewed and hired new staff for both reservations and operations departments.
- Conducted performance appraisals and salary negotiations.
- Resolved customer service issues and complaints.
- Implemented improved operating procedures.
- Scheduled staff to cover the various shifts that employees worked.
Manager, Travel Agency Relations
LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS
03.2003 - 01.2004
- Managed all aspects of firm's relationships with travel agencies including blocking space for groups, oversaw commission structures and bonuses.
- Organized and conducted travel agent familiarization trips.
- Led a group of 60 travel agents to the Galapagos Islands for ship/hotel inspection.
- Interfaced with consortia such as Virtuoso and Signature helping to increase business with their members by supplying information and support as the main contact person.
- Worked several trade/consumer shows including Virtuoso's Travel Week, The New York Times Travel Show and the Luxury Travel Expo.
Vice President of Operations and Travel Services
TRAVEL DYNAMICS
01.1996 - 01.2003
- Managed a combined department of up to twenty, including the hiring, firing and performance appraisals of staff in the reservations, operations and field staff departments.
- Under my direction, client evaluations of office staff's service improved dramatically.
- Scouted new itineraries and then directed, supervised and scheduled advance work for program development. department, resulting in smoother running programs and fewer customer complaints.
- Prepared technical operating schedules.
- Monitored budgets closely thereby saving the company money.
- Maximized berthing wherever possible, moving passengers when necessary, resulting in increased revenue.
- Reviewed and approved brochure copy and destination materials.
Education
M.S. Travel & Tourism Management -
New York University
New YorkB.A. Economics -
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NYTimeline
Consultant
ViaTour Software
06.2020 - Current
Marketing and Operations Manager
Journeys by Exotic
01.2019 - 03.2020
Manager, Agency Relations
Offshore Outpost Expeditions
09.2017 - 07.2018
Web Content and Tour Guide Manager
TopView Sightseeing
01.2016 - 08.2017
Product Development
Gate 1 Travel
08.2015 - 11.2015
Trade/Travel Manager
Visit Flanders (Belgium) Tourist Office
04.2009 - 07.2014
Assistant Director of Operations
American Museum of Natural History
04.2007 - 01.2009
Operations/Office Manager
ARZA WORLD
01.2006 - 01.2007
Manager of Operations
PACIFIC DELIGHT WORLD TOURS
01.2004 - 01.2006
Manager, Travel Agency Relations
LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS
03.2003 - 01.2004
Vice President of Operations and Travel Services
TRAVEL DYNAMICS
01.1996 - 01.2003
M.S. Travel & Tourism Management -
New York University
B.A. Economics -
Brooklyn College