‘Leading by Example,’ Education Leader’s Board Now ‘100% Certified’
FRAMINGHAM, MA, December 1, 2025 – The Travel Institute announces the appointment of 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,” enthused Gary Pollard, CTC, chair for The Travel Institute Board of Directors and president and CEO, Ambassador Tours. “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. 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,” reflected 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 said.
Pollard, a board member himself since 2009 and chair since 2022, asserted that for Hughes and for other board members, leading by example is critical today in an industry that doesn’t mandate education but that without which, enduring success is highly unlikely. “Our board members are clearly well-respected, accomplished and articulate leaders but, importantly, they are also leading by example when it comes to education—inspiring advisors everywhere by not only what they say but what they do,” Pollard explained, emphasizing all board members for The Travel Institute are now certified. “Already an accomplished CTC, Alex Pinelo just earned his CTIE and Jill Romano is now a CTA. These are incredibly successful and busy individuals who are walking the walk—not just talking the talk. A collective hunger for educational excellence is a shared passion and driver for our work as a board. We are dedicated to education for travel professionals at all career stages and that isn’t something we talk about at the board level only, it’s something we are demonstrating as individuals.”
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
- 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.
The Travel Institute relies on individuals and organizations to support its work to create relevant, meaningful, rigorous and affordable coursework for agents at all career stages. Donate funding, share your expertise with students, or learn more about sponsorships in support of agent, traveler, and industry success.
ABOUT THE TRAVEL INSTITUTE
A collaborative industry effort created in 1964, The Travel Institute has continuously evolved to maintain its role as the global leader and industry’s recognized gold standard in travel industry education and certification. Dedicated solely to advancing the professionalism of both agents and industry leaders in support of individual and industry success, The Travel Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, independent organization operating exclusively for educational purposes to meet the ever-changing needs of travel agents. Working with leaders throughout the industry to create and deliver relevant and rigorous coursework and proctored, closed-book testing to ensure graduates demonstrate the highest standards of expertise and service, The Travel Institute has more than 31,000 Certified Travel Associate, CTA©; Certified Travel Counselor, CTC©; and Certified Travel Industry Executive, CTIE© graduates. It also administers the Travel Agent Proficiency, or TAP©, exam to confirm students new to the industry demonstrate a mastery of travel industry basics. Countless individuals, agency owners and managers, and educational institutions utilize The Travel Institute’s award-winning TRIPKITSM introductory program and CTA© as their learning tools of choice. A trusted partner to industry suppliers and educational institutions, The Travel Institute is also the approved provider of travel industry civilian occupation training for U.S. military and has trained hundreds of thousands through various courses, webinars, and other online content through its Education Hub. Throughout North America, many successful agents and high-profile leaders credit their success to The Travel Institute’s affordable and accessible educational resources. Learn more.