Committed to promoting travel, tourism and hospitality in San Francisco and throughout the world.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. [email protected]
represented by SFTP Member Bill Boden, is offering up front 13% commissions to SFTP members. Call 800-835-1223 for more information. [email protected]
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 / [email protected]
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 / [email protected]
Give Hope
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Please take a moment and visit the Breast Cancer website.
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La casa de las madres
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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!
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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
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.
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
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:
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
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 Company |
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.
