It’s that time of year again. Time to publish year-end lists and compilations. 

Since circumstances forced me to be a better delegator this year (at long last!) I asked each of my team to each give me a “favorite” experience of 2016:

Howard Wise is one of those key players that every coach dreams to have on her team. Hard-working, dedicated and loyal to a fault. He’s been with me since 2008 and there’s absolutely nothing I ask of Howard that isn’t done competently, quickly and accurately. He’s the first to admit to being most comfortable doing analytical tasks and performing behind the scenes. Howard hates to have his picture taken – which is why his entry features no photos of him! Howard’s talents and attributes make a nice complement to another guy on my team who is most definitely not the shy, retiring type!

Howard is a UCLA alumni with season tickets to Bruins football games. I was surprised to learn that he’d never been to a professional NFL game. Which – now that I think of it – is not too surprising since LA hasn’t had a pro football team since the Rams left for St. Louis in 1995. (They’re back – but will take awhile to rebuild.)

Earlier this year, CTP handled its first-ever NFL football incentive program for a San Francisco media client and Howard was the perfect choice to manage the operation. The fact that it was a SUPER BOWL program was mind-blowing – and was a super-special experience for the 50th anniversary of Super Bowl!

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From Ellen Gruetzmacher . . . (the one who was hired to be my Exec Assistant and told, “this is not a travel position” . . .)

When I was a little girl, growing up in Solvang, I watched the Tarzan tv series faithfully. We had a huge oak tree in our backyard with branches that were dark gray with smooth ridges. One particular branch grew out horizontally and seemed as big around as an elephant’s back. I would ‘ride’ that branch in my little red shorts and pretend that I was Jai, Tarzan’s young companion, who always wore a red loincloth. 

From those early years of riding that imaginary elephant, I always dreamed that one day I’d pet a real elephant. Or, better yet – ride one!

When Marilyn dropped the bombshell and told me I was going to India as travel staff on a program last month, I hoped my dream would come true! 

I raised pigs in 4-H as a girl and figured an elephant probably felt like them: bristly hair, tough and leathery. But when the magic moment came, and I was able to pet an elephant’s trunk, I was surprised to find it softer than I’d imagined – like a nicely tanned leather handbag! 

 

I did get an elephant ride, too. But I must confess to some disappointment. After all – since I had years of expert tree-branch riding – I assumed the mahout would be happy to hand over the reigns to his three-ton animal and let me drive. Instead, this middle-aged American woman was relegated to riding on a padded platform on the elephant’s back. (Maybe if I’d worn my little red shorts, he might have relented??)

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From Gabriel Haigazian . . . (the not-so-shy-and-retiring one we all know and love!)

This was a hard assignment! But I’ve decided that one of my favorite experiences/destinations/hotels this year is Villa d’Este on Lake Como. I’ve been there many times, but each time I return, I see it with a fresh pair of eyes. The hotel is nothing short of stunning. When I return, I’m always greeted by name at the front door upon arrival. The entire staff, including senior management, make me feel so welcome. Staff (especially waiters) have been employed there forever. Who wouldn’t want to work in such a gorgeous place for the rest of their lives??

All this comes with a hefty price tag, though! Group rates start at nearly $1,000/night!

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From Whitney Chen . . . our youngest teammate and rising star!

My favorite thing that I (re)discovered this year is river cruising. Especially in France, a favorite country which has inspired me to brush up on my high school French and take lessons in 2017!

I’ve experienced luxury river cruising both as a trip director as well as a vacationing passenger. I love the leisurely pace and the number of places to experience in a single week. I can literally sit on the top deck and watch the world go by. 

In our business, we travel constantly and there are always a lot of moving parts for which we’re running around nonstop to ensure everything runs smoothly. It’s like that of a duck in the water – we glide along the surface but underneath we’re paddling like hell! But the river cruise staff are so capable and professional… they help make my job easy.

Even though the average passenger is much older than me, they all have fantastic and interesting stories to share. They’re friendly and genuinely interested in meeting fellow passengers. Every day there is an activity/excursion to choose from, including more adventurous options like biking and hiking. And the food! I’ll be honest, I travel for food and wine. I’ve never had a bad meal on board a river ship!

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And from da Big Boss, Marilyn Murphy . . .

And MY favorite thing? This was so easy and obvious this year. But it’s not a place. Nor is it a “wow” experience. It’s this:

There are not enough superlatives to describe my spectacular, supportive CTP team. We’re an eclectic mix: introvert and extrovert, artistic and analytical, whimsical and hum-drum, dapper and dowdy, hipster and oldster – and we love working, playing and laughing together.

As a business owner, it would be smart to say that I created my team from a deliberate, calculated management and HR strategy. But the truth is that my dream team has been birthed from years of serendipity, auspicious referrals, learning from dozens of disastrous hiring mistakes as well as keeping the wrong people for too long, and – truthfully – a whole lotta luck. All I know is that I’m blessed that these folks always have my back … especially this year. I’m so very grateful.

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And how about you? What was your favorite thing this year?