San Francisco Travel Professionals​
Committed to promoting travel, tourism and hospitality in San Francisco and throughout the world.

Cosmopolitan Adventure Tours
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Welcome to San Francisco Travel Professionals!

​The Reason
SFTP (San Francisco Travel Professionals) is an association created exclusively for the travel professionals community, promoting travel and tourism. We aim to bring together tour operators, hoteliers, airlines, expedition cruise companies, tourist boards and other industry related companies whose common goal is to educate travel agents on the many facets of tourism.

Our Mission
Our mission is to provide a forum for travel professionals and travel suppliers to network and learn from each others expertise.

The History
Formerly known as Women in Travel, we have had a long trajectory and served proudly since 1928.

Today
Today more than ever face to face contact and social interaction is necessary to sift through all the information we find on the web. Our bimonthly dinner meetings provide the perfect environment to share experiences, learn about new products and meet destination specialists while enjoying a relaxed social evening.
Check Out Our Zoom Meetings

The Benefits Of The Membership

The Membership is for guests who demand the ultimate in luxury, exclusivity and service.

  • Membership in San Francisco Travel Professionals allows you to project a higher level of professionalism to your clients vendors and associates.
  • Promoting your business in the travel tourism or hospitality sectors via an influential professional travel association.
  • Networking with industry colleagues and enjoying the socializing at bi-monthly events.
  • Affordable annual membership fee.
  • Member discounts to events.
  • Membership Directory.
  • An easy and efficient avenue to the latest trends in the travel industry.​

Special Offers For SFTP Members

Way to Go Costa Rica
represented by SFTP Member Bill Boden, is offering up front 13% commissions to SFTP members. Call 800-835-1223 for more information.info@waytogocostarica.com

Cosmopolitan Adventure Tours
Rea Franjetic, President of SFTP is offering 13% commissions to SFTP members on CAT’s tours and FIT arrangements.
Call 415-9244627 for more information.
www.cosmopolitanadventuretours.com / info@cosmopolitanadventuretours.com

Give Hope

Please take a moment and visit the Breast Cancer website

La casa de las madres

By just visiting the Breast Cancer website, you are making a donation to support mammograms for underprivileged women. It does not cost you anything – the site’s corporate sponsors and advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate mammograms in exchange for advertising. Thank you!
Provides refuge and shelter for women fleeing domestic violence. Member Robin Morales describes some of the services offered.
Click here for more information

Mission & History

SAN FRANCISCO TRAVEL PROFESSIONALS—an organization fostering the promotion of travel, tourism and hospitality within San Francisco and throughout the world.  We are open to all professionals employed in these industries, unified to further the cause of bringing people across the globe together through understanding, education and the travel experience, here and abroad.

SFTP - SAN FRANCISCO TRAVEL PROFESSIONALS
​
​A History Then And Now

Click here to download a copy of the SFTP history.

Founding Members, The Travellarians 1928

Our organization was originally known as the Travellarians, a thirteen-letter word coined by Kitty Crabtree in recognition of the original 13 travel bureau girls. They agreed to meet on the thirteenth of each month. Their first outings in 1928 were hosted inspections by the Hotelman’s Association in Yosemite and along the Central California Coast. The purpose of the tour was to acquaint them with the hotels and points of interest along the route. It was on May 13,1928 that four of the ladies, including our chapter member, (Miss) Elsie May Kirker, discussed the formation of an organization composed of women, while on a 6-day tour from San Francisco to Santa Barbara. This enterprising group of ambitious women were up against the odds in a predominantly man’s world.
​

Their purpose for the organization was to develop a spirit of cooperation, to establish and maintain a means for the exchange of ideas and methods, to afford a mutually pleasurable getting together, and to promote better service to the public, employers and to those for whom the members of this organization would act as representative.

The Original 1928 Thirteen Charter Travellarians and Patron

Donna Williamson—Hotel Whitcomb Travel Bureau President
Mildred Bolton—American Express Vice President
Ina Liebhardt—Peck-Judah Secretary
Elsie May Kirker—American Express
LeMoine Wright—Mt. Tamalpais & Muir Wood Railway
Eleanor Beck—San Francisco Convention & Tourist League
Mary Murphy—San Francisco Convention and Tourist League
Mildred Sperry—Californians, Inc.
Kathryn Switzer—San Francisco Chamber of Commerce
Mary Clifford—Oakland Chamber of Commerce
P.E. (Kitty) Crabtree—Crabtree Travel Service

Original co-writers of the Constitution and Bylaws:       
Mabel Johnson—San Francisco Chamber of Commerce
Mae McKeown—the Fairmont Hotel Travel Bureau

Patron:
Mr. Jean Julliard—owner of the San Carlos Hotel in Monterey

On June 13, 1929, Elsie May Kirker, as a delegate, attended a meeting in Los Angeles where her mission was to encourage a Los Angeles affiliation to the San Francisco Travellarians. The Los Angeles chapter was subsequently organized with 13 charter members and officially became the Travellarians of Los Angeles. Permission to use the name of Travellarians was sold to the Los Angeles group for $25.00! On October 5, 1931, the Travellarians filed papers of incorporation to protect the name of the organization.

An article in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, New York, February 1933, gave a glowing report of the Daily Eagle’s dinner meeting with the San Francisco Travellarians—“The liveliest lot of travel specialists you ever saw”! At the time, Stella M. Dill of Berkeley, chairman of the publicity committee, was corresponding with a Brooklyn group regarding the formation of a New York chapter of the Travellarians.

It must be remembered, the Travellarians worked at a time when it was not in fashion for women to work outside of the home. When World War II began this left the women in charge of many of the offices. The club was suspended from the summer of 1942 until March 1947 in recognition of the war.

In June 2000, (Mrs.) Edith Jones was interviewed for her perspective on the club’s origins and attended a meeting at our invitation and verified the information describing the beginning of the organization, and even pointed to her own image in the photo shown in this brochure. She stated she was very pleased to know that their efforts had not been in vain and expressed encouragement for the continued success of what they (the original 13) had started in 1928
The yearly history is richly recorded in our scrapbooks with the original history written by Elsie May Kirker in the 1930s. The second rendition of the clubs growth was updated and catalogued in the 1950s. There are several books with newspaper articles, club pictures and other memorabilia, which are displayed yearly at our organization’s Annual Business and Initiation Meetings.
​

—Excerpts from Elsie May Kirker’s Original History Document
And Excerpts January 5, 2003 by Ruth Gardner, CTC – American Express Travel,SFWIT Past President, 2002-2003 Club Historians

The International Federation of Women's Travel Organizations

The Travellarians didn’t stop with their original beginnings but in the year 1967, Blanche Berger and Marian Sullivan, two active Travellarian members, presented their idea to commence an organization for women in the travel industry throughout the U. S. and the world that would be similar in nature to our own club. The idea was accepted with great enthusiasm and through the efforts an eager committee for the next two years International Federation of Women’s Travel Clubs (later to become IFWTO) was born in 1969 and continued for 38 years and consisted of chapters in over 90 countries throughout the world, including the U. S., Canada, Europe , Asia and Africa.

Eight organizations attended the founding meeting in Burlingame, California, for what was called the International Federation of Women’s Travel Clubs.  All the guest organizations joined along with the San Francisco Travellarians to become the charter members of the new organization:
San Francisco Travellarians
Philadelphia Women’s Travel Club
Travellarians of Los Angeles
South by Southeast Travel Women’s Club of Miami
Women’s Australian Travel League of Sydney
Chicago Women in Travel
41 Degree/74 Degree Club of New York
Association of Women Travel Executives of London


In 1977 the organizational name was changed from the International Federation of Women’s Clubs to the International Federation of Women’s Travel Organizations with the new logo of IFWTO. Other changes in the Federation brought modern clarity of purpose:
  • To improve and make more effective the status of women within the travel industry through the exchange of ideas and personal participation (1977).
  • To further promote international goodwill and understanding (1977)
  • To assist in the development of women’s travel organizations in areas where none presently exist (1977).
  • To prepare members through professionally and personally oriented educational programs to participate more fully in the positive growth of the industry (travel) (1981).

Also, in the period of innovations and in support of the worldwide women’s movements that lasted more than 2 decades, c.1960,the San Francisco Travellarians became SFWIT – San Francisco Women in Travel. Many of the Federation’s clubs also took up similar names.

In 1989, SFWIT – San Francisco Women in Travel hosted the 20th Anniversary International Convention. It was attended by 370 delegates representing IFWTO’s roster of then 64 member organizations from 14 countries. These conventions continued to 2006 when the 36th annual convention was held in Athens, Greece.

Other Federation innovations continued as its headquarters opened in Phoenix Arizona and annual awards were established: The Spirit Award recognized and honored a Federation member’s faithful service; The Berger-Sullivan Tourism Award, honored a person’s or company’s significant service to the travel industry; The Susan B. Thomas Award was presented to the most deserving Federation organization.

As we began the new century, the headquarters moved to Spain and IFWTO had in excess of 3100 members in 60 clubs representing 33 countries!

Sadly, in 2007 the Federation ceased to exist, and informed its membership that due to the many changes in the travel industry and declining membership, it could no longer financially operate.

Never shying from a challenge, under the direction of President Naydine Booth and with original Travellarians like Betty Shanahan and Blanche Berger on SFWIT’s 2007 Executive Board, it was decided to update our organization into a new business model: to become the premier travel networking organization in the San Francisco Bay Area, serving industry professionals of all genders. Our membership in February 2007 adopted a new Constitution and By-laws which extended our membership to all professions actively engaged in the selling of travel and/or travel promotion. To honor these changes a new name, a new logo and a new Mission Statement were adopted.  We are now proudly SFTP – San Francisco Travel Professionals. The new business model will be launched spring, 2007 with our new Mission Statement . . .

SFTP – San Francisco Travel Professionals is an organization fostering the promotion of travel, tourism and hospitality within San Francisco and throughout the world. We are open to all professionals employed in these industries, unified to further the cause of bringing people together through understanding, education and the travel experience here and abroad.

Submitted by Naydine Booth & Members of the Executive Board 2007- SFTP
​

Naydine Booth, President, Park Place Travel
Beth Ringhofer, Vice President, Publishing & Marketing, Roster, Siemer & Hand Travel
Maureen Manuel, Corresponding Secretary, Qantas Airways
Stephanie Spears, Treasurer, Blue World Travel
Christina (Tina) Liadis, Bylaws, History & Electronic Distribution, Geographic Expeditions
Betty (Ty) Shanahan, Membership, Portal World Travel (Retired)
Robin Morales, Programs and Venues, & Marketing, EmpireCLS Worldwide Chauffeured Services
Blanche Berger, Newsletter, Cable Car Travel Productions

Past Presidents of SFWIT

1928
Donna Williamson
Whitcomb Hotel Travel
1929
Mildred Bolton
American Express
1930
Lemoine Wright
Thomas Cook & Son
1931
Grace Pew
Panama Mail Steamship
1932
Kitty Crabtree
Crabtree Travel
1933
Elsie Mae Kirker
American Express
1934
Natalie Botteon
US Intercoastal Conference
1935
Myrtle Nelson
Yosemite Park & Curry Co.
1936
Laura Robins
Redwood Empire Association
1937
Ruth Fitzer
Greyhound Lines
1938
Lenore Norris
National Automobile Club
1939
no listing
no listing
1940
Stella Dill
National Automobile Club
1942-1946
inactive
inactive
1947
June Ross
Southern Pacific Railroad
1948
Teresa Ted Isasca
Californians, Incorporated
1949
Mildred Keith
Matson Navigation Company
1950
Ruth Fisher
Pan American Airlines
1951
Alberta Framer Oswald
Southern Pacific Railroad
1952
Ivel Gerdes
Pope & Talbot Steamship
1953
Mozelle Copeland
Greyhound Lines
1954
Dorothy Garden
Scandinavian Airlines
1955
Mary Ann Lockridge Culwell
George Smith Hotels
1956
Frances Jung
American Express
1957
Frances Croy
Milwaukee Railroad
1958
Patricia Morey
Hilton Hotels
1959
Edith Dalle-Feste
Cartan Travel
1960
Yona Pahl
Sabena Airlines
1961
Waun Sheetz Healey
Portal World Travel
1962
Dorothy Wiseman
Furness-Withy Steamship Comapny
1963
Evelyn T. Mulpeters
The Gray Line
1964
Marion Mathis Peters
American Airlines
1965
Blanche Berger
Santa Fe Railroad
1966
Betty Ty Shanahan
Portal Travel Service
1967
Viola Franke
American Airlines
1968
Shellah Jacobs
Cathy Pacific Airlines
1969
Rae Rutledge
Redwood Travel Advisors
1970
Elana Andersen
Hyatt Corporation
1971
Nancy Henry
San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau
1972
Lorna Bridges
New Zealand Government Tourist Office
1973
Carol Leone
General Steamship Company, Ltd.
1974
Mildred Pierce
Go, Go Tours, Inc.
1975
Marty Sarbey de Souto
Cal-Farm Travel Services
1976
Mildred Pierce
Go, Go Tours, Inc.
1977
Jodi M. Kuhn
Tradewinds Travel
1978
Hela Campbell
Air California
1979
Betsy Sanderson Caudell
China Airlines
1980
Jodi M. Kuhn
Malaysian Airlines Systems
1981
Ellen B. Metzger
Super 8 Motels
1982
Christine Azevedo
Odyssey International Travel
1983
Sheila B. Hyman, CTC
Henderson Travel
1984
Sheila B. Hyman, CTC
Henderson Travel
1985
Carole Wood
Placerville Travel
1986
Sheila Gorsuch
Hong Kong Tourist Association
1987
Marty Sarbey de Souto
Unique Adventures
1988
Janet M. Denniger, CTC
Close-up Expeditions
1989
Janet M. Denniger, CTC
Close-Up Expeditions
1990
Loretta Lechich, CTC
American Express
1991
Michelle Abrate, CTC
Bryan International Travel
1992
Michelle Abrate, CTC
Bryan International Travel
1993
Janette Rabin, CTC
CTN/Executive Travel Advisors
1994
Janette Rabin, CTC
CTN/Executive Travel Advisors
1995
Stephanie Spears
Rascals in Paradise
1996
Stephanie Spears
Rascals in Paradise
1997
Michelle Warren
Adventure Express Travel
1998
Robin Morales
Australian American Chamber of Commerce
1999
Ruth Gardener, CTC
American Express
2000
Ruth Gardener, CTC
American Express
2001
Dawn Roberts
Hyatt Hotels
2002
Beth Ringhofer
Siemer & Hand Travel
2003
Beth Ringhofer
Siemer & Hand Travel
2004
Beth Ringhofer
Siemer & Hand Travel
2005
Christina (Tina) Liadis
China Travel Service
2006
Christina (Tina) Liadis
Geographic Expeditions
2007
Naydine M. Booth
Park Place Travel
2008
Naydine M. Booth
The Cruise Experience
2009
Naydine M. Booth
The Cruise Experience
2010
Rea Christina Franjetic
Cosmopolitan Adventure Tours
2011
Rea Christina Franjetic
Cosmopolitan Adventure Tours
2012
Rea Christina Franjetic
Cosmopolitan Adventure Tours

Honorarium

Both SFWIT and IFWTO have honored selected members for their on-going contributions to the travel industry and or to the organizations by bestowing on such individuals Life Membership or Honorary Membership.  The following members are award recipients:
Blanche Berger
SFTP
SFWIT
IFWTO
Ernestine Fruits
-
SFWIT
-
Evelyn Mulpeters
-
SFWIT
-
Betty (Ty) Shanahan
SFTP
SFWIT
-
Eleanor M. Wilford
-
SFWIT
-
Carole Wood
-
SFWIT
-
Sheila Gorsuch
-
SFWIT
-
Elana Andersen
SFTP
SFWIT
IFWTO
Faye Alexander
-
-
IFWTO
Ingrid Oakes
-
-
IFWTO
Richard Forster
SFTP
HONORARY SFWIT
-
SFWIT Life Membership and Honorary Membership designations are recognized by SFTP  for all active members.
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  • About
    • Testimonials
    • Resources
    • Contact
  • Destinations
    • Middle East
    • Latin America
    • Europe
    • Cruises and Family Vacations
    • Antarctica - The Artic
    • The Caucasus Region
    • Journeys
  • Upcoming Journeys
  • Slideshows
    • Pompeii and London
    • Loreto National Marine Park
    • Van Gogh - San Francisco 2021
    • Dahabeya Amirat
    • Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula
    • Fitzcarraldo
    • 2020, EGYPT - A virtual visit
    • A Virtual Visit to Italy - 2020
    • Iran - 2019
    • ARGENTINA - Esteros del Ibera
    • Bolivia
    • Cuba
    • Croatia
    • Patagonia
  • Travel Counselors
  • San Francisco Travel Professionals
  • Sustainable Travel
    • Help the Children
  • Destination Guide