THE BUSINESS

What is your most recent project, and what was the inspiration behind it?
Renaming Philadelphia as the City of Sisterly Love in honor of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. It allows us to tap into the power of women travelers, GenX and Boomers.

What is your favorite aspect of the job?
Interacting and celebrating with the different communities and people I meet in a week, a day or the year. We are also excited about our association with the James Beard Foundation and the Philadelphia restaurants that have been awarded.

What’s the biggest business risk you’ve ever taken?
I launched “DO AC” in Atlantic City after years of decline. Superstorm Sandy hit two months later, and we had to endure the loss of casinos, but it all paid off.

Who is someone you admire professionally in the travel industry?
The late Kevin Mosher was one of the people who started LGBTQ+ charter travel. He had his own business as an entrepreneur, and he believed travel could make the world a better place. Travel helps you to better understand yourself and other people.

AS A TRAVELER

Tell us about a travel nightmare: It is always a nightmare if you arrive and your luggage doesn’t.

Share a comical travel experience: I remember running through an airport with my friend who was delayed in joining us on a European vacation. He got to Venice and all his luggage was still missing. We were running to catch a clipper ship. We were looking for clothes and nothing was cheap. We ended up donating some of our clothing for him; it all worked out in the end.

What is your preferred method of travel — planes, trains, automobiles, cruise ships — and why? Pretty much anything but cars.

What has been the best example of customer service you’ve experienced during your travels? A woman named Monica in Buenos Aires overheard me and a friend there on business trying to figure out what to do. She took us to the orchestra that night. She knew all the ins and outs, and it was cool. She got us into a box at Teatro Colón. It was unbelievable and beautiful. Monica was connected, and we never saw her again.