ANCHORAGE, Alaska, 2013-07-24 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travel Alliance Partners (TAP) proudly announces that Todd Stallbaumer, Consumer and Trade Marketing Director for the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department is the recipient of the 2013 Spirit of TAP Award. Stallbaumer was nominated by many TAP Partners for his outstanding role in the industry and as an individual who is admired for going above and beyond the normal call of duty. “Todd is being recognized for his contagious enthusiasm not only for TAP, but his destination, region and the entire tourism industry,” said TAP President Sandi Pufahl, also owner of Fancy-Free Holidays. “He has a great personality and works well with other delegates and operators in assisting with the development of creative tour packages. He is a leader and not a follower,” she continued.
The Spirit of TAP Award was established in 2012 after the passing of TAP Partner Ann Thomas of Western Discovery to recognize a PPTP (TAP’s term for their top suppliers, an acronym for Preferred Professional Travel Providers) who truly has the vision and embodies the true Spirit of the Travel Alliance Partners and doesn’t wait for others to ask for help, rather asks “what can I do for you?”
The award was announced at a breakfast during TAP Dance, the annual convention held by Travel Alliance Partners, in Norfolk, Virginia in June 2013. 2012 Spirit of TAP Recipient Jim Coggin of the Virginia Beach CVB introduced Tracy Gruber, Ann Thomas’ daughter, to announce the 2013 recipient.
Travel Alliance Partners, LLC
Travel Alliance Partners, LLC or “TAP” is a privately-held organization owned by the 31 North America-based tour operators that also comprise the organization’s ownership. Each owner operator is an expert in the region in which they are established and offer travelers the most diverse knowledge base of travel destinations possible. As TAP Partners, tour operators collectively offer more than 250 worldwide tours with Guaranteed Departures, collaborate on joint marketing opportunities, and share best business practices in order to move market share. The organization was founded in 1996 by Serge Talbot, President of San Jose, Calif.-based Talbot Tours, and has operated as a corporation since 2002.
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