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Lee Pappas Spence Lee Pappas Spence’s interest in pursuing a career in the travel industry was piqued by extensive travel with her family while growing up. By the age of 20, Lee had visited Europe, the Caribbean, and Hawaii and had been on several cruises.  Lee began her career in the travel industry in 1970 as a travel agent for a small agency in Pepper Pike, Ohio.

She escorted large groups to destinations such as Spain, Hawaii, and Las Vegas for a local charter company, which added the internal operations of the air charter industry to her growing knowledge base. After a two-year stint in the hotel industry where she became the Regional Sales Manager for Sheraton Hotels in Cleveland, Ohio, she joined American Express Corporation as an International Sales Consultant. An established Cleveland agency called upon her qualifications and experience in opening a new certified, bonded branch agency. She also managed a large Corporate Agency for three years.

Lee opened her own agency, Falls Travel Service, Inc. in Chagrin Falls, Ohio in 1986, which she grew into a multi-million dollar per year business before selling the agency in 1996, shortly before the reduction of agency commissions by the major airlines.

As Lee watched the dramatic changes in the travel industry, she observed the decline in service provided by commercial airlines. She jumped back into the travel business in 2001 launching Leez Travel X-change – LeezAir and new regional airline Destination One in 2006.

Following the launch of Destination One, she returned to her focus on the luxury travel business by launching Corsa Bella in 2006.