Delray Beach, Fla. (October 22, 2024) — InteleTravel, the global travel distribution group built on the world’s largest host agency, announced today that James R. Ferrara is the newly appointed chief executive officer and managing partner of its parent holding company, INTRAVEL. He co-founded InteleTravel with Chairman Joseph Traina Sr. in 1991 and served first as the company's executive vice president and chief marketing officer and then as president since 2005, playing a pivotal role in InteleTravel’s growth to become the world’s largest host agency and one of the largest travel distributors in the U.S., U.K., the Caribbean and Ireland.
“I speak for the whole team when I say that we are elated to have James step into this new role as CEO,” said Joseph Traina Sr. “He has dedicated endless hours to leading the team that has grown InteleTravel to the global travel giant it is now, and he has been the architect of the recent mergers and acquisitions that have propelled us further.”
INTRAVEL, the holding company of InteleTravel, has seen meteoric growth since the pandemic due to strategic acquisitions, partnerships and development within InteleTravel's core business, all led by Ferrara. In addition to being the world’s largest and oldest host agency, the company expanded its offerings through multiple acquisitions, including Hickory Global Partners, a corporate travel alliance, and MGME, a meeting and events agency. In addition, Ferrara championed the effort to expand InteleTravel into the U.K., making it the U.K.’s largest homeworker agency over the past few years. Ferrara forged a majority stake acquisition of the U.K. tour operator Major Travel this year, allowing InteleTravel to integrate vertically and add products to its distribution model for the first time. Major Travel is scheduled to enter the US tour operator market in early 2025.
“I am honored to be recognized as chief executive officer of InteleTravel,” said Ferrara. “InteleTravel’s accomplishments have only been possible through the creativity and dedication of the whole team, both domestically and internationally, and the accomplishments of our unique network of over 120,000 independent travel advisors. My plan is to aggressively pursue new initiatives for products and services, geographic expansion, advisor education programs, new technologies and more.”
InteleTravel as a host agency will surpass $1 billion in travel sales this year, while the whole group will be responsible for more than $3 billion. The ongoing integration of the portfolio companies allows each to benefit from cost efficiencies, shared technologies and services and cross-selling strategies. For example, InteleTravel advisors are gaining new access and training in the unmanaged corporate and business travel market in partnership with Hickory, and advisors, Hickory agents and corporate travel management company members can earn from selling new meeting and event services supported by MGME.
Ferrara has been a coach and advocate for frontline travel advisors for over 30 years and serves on advisory boards for leading travel organizations, including the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), Carnival Cruise Lines, Apple Leisure Group, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Delta Vacations and others. He also co-hosts a travel podcast with fellow industry veteran, Mike Putman, No Tourists Allowed, which started in 2022.
At this time, InteleTravel will make an announcement regarding the appointment of its new president before the end of the year.
About InteleTravel
Established in 1991, InteleTravel is a global integrated travel distribution enterprise with more than 120,000 independent travel advisors worldwide, as well as Hickory Global Partners, the corporate travel alliance, MGME, a leading meetings and events agency, and Major Travel, the UK’s leading bespoke long-haul tour operator. InteleTravel is recognized by every major travel supplier and is the top retailer for many brands. Over the course of its over 30-year history, InteleTravel has become known for its leadership in travel sales, robust preferred supplier relationships, ground-breaking agent education programs, and innovative travel technology. For more information, visit www.InteleTravel.com.
