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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.
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