Virtuoso’s #1 Cruise Seller

I (David Porter) was just named the Top Cruise Seller for Virtuoso.

The announcement was made at Virtuoso Travel Week a month ago. However, with our recent trip to Iceland and then Michigan to visit family, I am just now finding the time to let you in on the amazing news.

I say amazing because it was in 2008 that I told Carol that we would have to come out of our early retirement as the stock market crash had taken 50% of our cash assets.

Carol and me in the Arctic Circle

All of our early retirement achievements were dashed, and if I didn’t want to be a Walmart greeter in the coming decades, I needed to generate some income.

As we retired early to travel, I decided that we should start a travel blog.  We named the blog “The Roaming Boomers,” and off we went traveling the world.

In just a few short years, we amassed a respectable number of readers and transitioned our blog to the Roaming Boomers Travel Services. And from there, it was off to the races.

While I am honored and grateful for the recognition, let me just say that I could have never done this without my wife alongside in the early days. And today, I’ve got three full-time team members, plus my wife, working on all the necessary details after a sale is made.

So, a huge thank you to my wife, Joan, Kelly, and Christine. It’s been an exciting ride, and as we are a team, this is really a team award.  Thank you.

The Roaming Boomers Team

Secondly, a huge thank you to our clients.  You have placed your trust in us and referred your family and friends; nearly 70% of our annual volume comes from repeat bookings and referrals.

Thirdly, thank you to Cadence, our host agency.  You’ve been a big supporter all along the way, and we’re proud to be affiliated with you.

Lastly, to Virtuoso.  We appreciate the recognition of our hard work.  The marketing tools and educational opportunities that you have provided the industry are unparalleled and absolutely a part of our success.

As a side note, as most of our clients are baby boomers, let your grandchildren know that the travel industry is a fabulous place to build a career. Not only will they have the opportunity to travel the world, but with hard work, they too can build a fabulous business.

So, again, thanks to all who contributed to our success. I wonder where the next ten years will take us.

Who knows, perhaps we’ll be traveling in space.  Or, perhaps we’ll be flying from NYC to Australia in just four hours.  Wouldn’t that be a boom for the travel industry?

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Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40

Virtuoso® is the leading global travel agency network specializing in luxury and experiential travel. This by-invitation-only organization comprises over 1,200 travel agency locations with more than 20,000 travel advisors in over 50 countries throughout North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. Drawing upon its preferred relationships with more than 2,200 of the world’s best hotels and resorts, cruise lines, airlines, tour companies and premier destinations, the network provides its upscale clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. Normalized annual sales of (U.S.) $25–$30 billion make Virtuoso a powerhouse in the luxury travel industry.