One of the best parts of being in the Tourism industry for many years is the people I meet. Our industry has an endless list of talented, hardworking, fun-loving, and creative professionals. I decided to interview my friends and give you a peek into their lives and careers. This week we hear from my friend Yves Fore of America and Beyond, a U.S.-based receptive tour company.
I have made sales calls on Yves when he worked in NYC, spent time with him at tradeshows, and hosted him on FAM tours. One of my favorite memories of Yves is when we were at a tradeshow in Paris and he took me out to dinner one night to Le Procope – the oldest cafe in Paris. But what made it even more amazing was that Donatella Versace was seated at the tiny table next to us and proceeded to check out what we were eating! Yves has been in the industry a long time and shares some great information with us.
Tell us a bit about how you got started in the tourism industry.
Growing up in France, I have loved maps and holiday’s spent visiting historical sites in Europe. Some of my earliest memories are sitting on my Papa’s lap while he showed me far-off distant places on the globe. As I grew up I had pen friends all over the world. Each letter would bring me closer to some exotic place where they lived. I was blessed to participate in an exchange program where I got to spend summers and holidays in Germany. The more I learned about the world, the more I want to learn.
It only seemed natural that I would seek degrees in English and German, and eventually pursuing an additional degree in Tour Business. During my studies, I was honored to spend a year in Scotland and another in Ireland. During my required National Service, I was stationed in Germany as an Interpreter of Conference & Translation for the French and Allied forces.
My first job in the tourism industry was with Club Med in Portugal. I acted as a host and tour guide, taking groups all over Portugal and Spain. What a privilege to learn the ‘art of tourism’ from the ground up. After a Club Med, love brought me to New York City. My time in Manhattan was spent working for some of the largest and most prestigious travel companies in the United States. I started at the bottom and worked my way up to Director of Hotel Contracting. For the past 30 plus years, I have been associated with the tourism industry.
What is your current job and what are your primary responsibilities?
Six years ago, I co-founded America & Beyond. American & Beyond is a receptive tour operator specializing in adhoc tours that brings Europeans to America. As an owner of the company, I do everything from hiring and training staff to insuring supplies are paid in time and everything in between. It is true as an owner everything is your responsibility, but my absolute favorite activities are meeting with suppliers and selling the beauty that is America to our clients.
No matter the size or destination of the group, we work to make every group special. Three days in Manhattan or three weeks across North America in a bus, it is our passion to make sure every guest has a memorial experience.
What are some of the changes you have seen since you began your career?
That is a loaded question with lots of responses. From my office in the Empire State Building, I witnessed the planes crashing into the World Trade Center, which changed our industry forever. As I sit speaking with you now, the world is recovering from the Covid pandemic, which will change our industry forever.
But I must admit the biggest change to our industry has to be technology. When I first started in the industry, sending a telex was considered ‘high tech’, today we maintain 24/7 communication with clients and operating groups. We believe in supporting our clients from beginning to end, we do not use a hotline – our assigned team member is available during the entire time a group is on the group. It is part of our best-in-class service we provide to our clients.
How has Covid impacted your job?
The cliché answer: It has made me much more appreciative of vodka! In reality, it has reconfirmed the importance of keeping in touch with our suppliers and clients. While we have not been able to see each other in person, we do have virtual cocktails together and learned the importance of friendship, trust, and integrity. We have discovered we are ‘All in this together’ and that as the world re-opens post-pandemic it will take all of us working together as team to rebuild our respective companies and industry.
It’s vacation time – where do you go?
I am privileged to spend much of my time traveling because of work. There is not an inch of this big, beautiful world that I do not want to discover. But at this stage of my life, my favorite vacation is getting in our big bus RV and traveling America. We stop at every roadside attraction, we stop everywhere possible, meeting and talking with people from every corner of the globe.
As we do this, I have the opportunity to build unique stops and experiences for my clients. Because we live in America and spend our vacation exploring America, we can truly offer the very best and unique of America to our clients and their passengers.
What is your favorite app and tell us a bit about it.
I’ll admit I am not very current with modern technology. I do love Facebook; it allows me to keep in contact with friends and family and helps me to share in their lives. Also, I will admit because of the pandemic I have become a fan of WhatsApp – while nothing can replace seeing friends, family, clients in person, seeing their faces on WhatsApp has been a great way to engage during these challenging times.
What is your favorite tradeshow and why?
Any show where I get to spend time with clients and supplies is a favorite show. I kid you not, I simply adore the interaction that comes with attending tradeshows. While I love attending all tradeshows, most do fall in the later summer and early fall. It is a very hectic and physically exhausting couple of months.
I must admit one of my favorites is TTG held in Rimini Italy each October. I have many Italian clients that come to see me, and I know the city like the back of my hand which means lots of fun times out drinking and eating. But what makes this so special each year is that my spouse comes with me and since it is the last show of the season, we take a few days off afterwards to simply explore, relax and renew ourselves in the Italian countryside.
What advice do you have for someone just getting started in the tourism industry?
Never underestimate what the owner of your company does, they have a great amount of experience to share with you. Do not be afraid of starting at the bottom and working your way up, it is a big and diverse industry, the more skills you have the more likely you will be successful in the long run.
What do you see as an opportunity that will come out of the Coronavirus crisis?
As we start to come out of the pandemic, I see both clients and suppliers anxious to restart our respective businesses. I see many potential opportunities, but none have actually materialized as of yet. My focus has been on reimagining America & Beyond as a company that is flexible and can adapt to support clients and new needs that may arise in their businesses.
As I speak with clients, there appears to be a gigantic pent-up demand for travel to America, but groups maybe smaller and last minute. We are now working with our clients to understand how to successfully operate a small group and conform with a multitude of post-pandemic regulations that will vary by state, county, and city. The past two years have been nerve-racking, but it is an exciting time to be in the Travel Industry.
Thank you Yves for your great responses!
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