Name: Phil Otterson
Title: President
Company, city: Abercrombie & Kent USA, Chicago
Number of employees: 2,200
First job: Working on the family farm
Little-known fact about you: I grew up on a rice farm in central California’s San Joaquin Valley.

Phil Otterson’s Business

Essential business philosophy: Deep roots and long-established relationships give us access to people and places not available to any other travel company.

Best way to keep a competitive edge: Rely on experienced destination experts; create a company small enough to offer personalized attention yet large enough to secure the finest escorts, accommodations, reliable transportation and special access.

Yardstick of success: Our many awards over 50 years including Best Luxury Tour Operator in the World in Global Traveler’s Leisure Travel Awards, as well as World’s Leading Luxury Tour Operator (World Travel Awards), Best Luxury Tour Operator International (Travel Weekly), Best Luxury Tour Operator (Luxury Travel Advisor), Best Worldwide Tour Operator (Porthole Cruise Magazine) and Best Tour Operator Africa/Middle East (TravelAge West, Recommend and Agent@Home)

Phil Otterson As A Traveler

What is the most important item you take when traveling? I never leave home without my iPhone.

How do you spend your time on board? If I’m flying east from Chicago, I’m normally sleeping. Flying west to Chicago, I’m working.

What is your favorite restaurant in the world? The newly opened Little Goat Diner from Chef Stephanie Izard in Chicago. The cuisine is unexpected.

What is your favorite destination in the world? My favorite destination is Myanmar, especially Inle Lake, with its fishermen plying the waters, the mountains surrounding the lake and the small villages on stilts.

About Abercrombie & Kent

What gives Abercrombie & Kent an edge over the competition? Travel with Abercrombie & Kent combines the convenience, service and security of a U.S.-based company with a network of 50 on-site offices around the world with full-time staff available 24/7. We secure the best guides, accommodations and transportation at significant savings over what you could arrange on your own.

Our itineraries include “must-see” sights along with privileged access to people and authentic experiences that capture the essence of a destination, places you are unlikely to discover on your own. Those who have never traveled with experienced guides are surprised at what a difference they make to their understanding and enjoyment of a destination. Our guides are an essential part of the “A&K cocoon” when something unexpected happens.

What destinations are the most popular? For luxury travel, Africa. There are so many ways to have a luxury experience — gorilla trekking in Uganda, luxury tented camps in Botswana, bush dinners in Tanzania, wine tasting in South Africa. What is more luxurious than coming home from an evening game drive to find a private bath set up on your deck, surrounded by candles?

Two up-and-coming destinations are the Arctic and Myanmar. The increasing evidence of climate change affecting the polar regions is driving interest in the High Arctic, including Greenland and the islands of the Svalbard Archipelago in Norway, about 600 miles from the North Pole. Our expedition this summer sold out, and we’ve announced two new itineraries for 2014. Interest in Myanmar increased dramatically since the National League for Democracy announced it welcomes responsible tourism. We’ve seen an 80 percent increase in bookings this year over last year.

How does Abercrombie & Kent promote fair trade/sustainable tourism? As travel increasingly becomes about the things money cannot buy — shared experiences and treasured memories — guests want to make a personal connection and positive contribution to the places they visit. A&K pioneered community development assistance by introducing civic-minded travelers to grassroots organizations making a difference. Local A&K staff identify conservation, health, education and cultural challenges in their communities, then work with organizations to find solutions with project funding from Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy, which supports more than 40 projects on all seven continents.