Excellence in Leadership
TravelAge West’s Excellence in Leadership Award celebrates a long-standing icon of the travel industry, and recognizes their lifelong commitment to the betterment of the industry.
Each year, TravelAge West honors individuals with the Excellence in Leadership Award. These exceptional industry leaders not only demonstrate outstanding leadership, insight and innovation, but also positively impact both their own organizations and the travel industry overall.
For 2025, TravelAge West is honored to present this award to two worthy recipients, Mike Julius with Carnival Cruise Line and Ray Snisky with ALG Vacations. In addition, our Legend of the West award, sponsored by Azamara Cruises, was presented to Matthew Eichhorst with Expedia Cruises.
Excellence in Leadership Award
Mike Julius
Vice President of Field Sales,
Carnival Cruise Line
In 1989, a bright-eyed Mike
Julius joined Carnival Cruise Line — he was fresh out of an agency setting,
where he sold leisure travel for a handful of years before moving into a
managerial position. Julius thought he’d be with Carnival for a year or two,
learning the ins and outs of the cruise industry. But life had other plans —
decades later, he remains a stalwart and beloved representative for the line.
“There is a lot of brand equity
in the word ‘Carnival,’ and that’s kept me focused and excited to be part of
the company — and the cruise industry as a whole — all these years,” Julius
said.
Julius has held various
leadership roles at Carnival, including managing director for the U.S. and
regional vice president, central U.S. He cruises less frequently than he used
to — he’s onboard a Carnival ship at least once a year, he says — but that
doesn’t mean he’s not passionate about the product, or about the travel
advisors who sell it.
“I’ve met some of my best friends
in this business, and a lot of them are travel advisors,” Julius said. “We have
a common interest in making dreams and trips come true for people. I know some
industry colleagues talk about advisors being the doctors of the industry, and
I really think that’s true. They’re prescribing a feeling of excitement, of
adventure. To some people, that means going to the Bahamas; to others, it’s
Thailand or Antarctica. But having something around the corner keeps you fresh
and energized.”
Julius attributes his success at
Carnival to two traits: his authenticity with others, and his willingness to
listen.
“What you see is what you get
with me,” he said. “There is no hidden pretense. And I listen — whether it’s to
my team, my colleagues or travel advisors. Nobody wants to listen to someone
talk about themselves. I would rather hear what someone needs, or what they
don’t like, and then work together to find a resolution for everybody.”
When he’s not going the extra
mile to bolster Carnival, Julius is likely relaxing with family and friends in
his home state of Iowa, or in Palm Springs, California, where he spends his
winters. The energy of the desert agrees with him, as does all the sunshine.
As for what’s next on the
horizon, Julius and his husband of 46 years are heading to Italy and Spain this
summer for the food, wine and beautiful scenery. Of course, they’ll be
cruising, and most likely with sister brand Princess.
“The Carnival brand has kept me
here, as has everyone I grew up with,” Julius said. “It’s Carmen Roig, who’s
leading Princess; Anthony Viciana of Scenic Cruises; Wendy Whitener at MSC; and
Vicki Freed at Royal Caribbean. We are like family — I feel blessed to be part
of that, and to be honored by this industry.”
Excellence in Leadership Award
Ray Snisky
President, ALG Vacations and Amstar DMC
Right out of high school, Ray
Snisky dove into the world of hospitality. The New York City native headed
west, to the most glamorous hospitality hub of all — Las Vegas.
He wasn’t there for the slot
machines or the stage shows. Instead, he got a degree in hotel administration
at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. That helped him secure a spot in Mirage
Resorts’ first-ever management associate program (right when the brand was
opening The Mirage, the most expensive hotel ever built at the time), and later
a job at the historic Golden Nugget hotel.
Among the industry leaders he met
during his years in Vegas was Bill LaMacchia, owner and founder of The Mark Travel
Corporation. That connection eventually inspired him to leave Sin City; he
relocated to Wisconsin to work for LaMacchia and to take responsibility for the
strategic development of The Mark Travel Corporation, both domestically and
internationally. He joined its board of directors, as well.
In 2018, The Mark Travel
Corporation merged with Apple Leisure Group (ALG), and in 2020, Snisky was
named president of ALG Vacations and Amstar DMC. It’s a title years in the
making, and the result of both personal diligence and guidance from top leaders
in the business.
“Some of my greatest influences
were Steve Wynn, Bill LaMacchia and, most recently, Mark Hoplamazian of Hyatt,”
Snisky said. “Wynn’s creativity and attention to detail were incredible, and he
taught me how important public speaking is for a leader. LaMacchia showed me
how to care for colleagues, and Mark’s work ethic and level of engagement — at
all levels of his organization — is something that I aspire to.”
The vast majority of ALG
Vacations’ business comes through travel advisors, so Snisky is deeply tied to
the community. He appreciates their boots-on-the-ground perspective, their
dedication to their craft — no matter the obstacles in the way — and their
passion for the consumer.
“Like a little kid who goes into
a toy store, my eyes light up when I think about travel advisors,” Snisky said.
“They are the backbone of our industry, and the absolute best way to distribute
our products. And they’re just a great group of people.”
Like travel advisors, Snisky
stands ever ready to solve a problem. He counts the turbulent months after
9/11, the financial collapse of 2008 and the COVID-19 pandemic as challenges
that left the industry stronger.
“When the world was stacked
against us, we had to act quickly, and be a stabilizing force for people who
were anxious about the future,” he said. “A great leader — which I am aspiring
to be — has to instill confidence. When I look at the things I’m most proud of,
it’s getting the company through those difficult times, and getting out on the
other side better than we were before we went in.”
Even in his personal life, Snisky
is a doer. He and his family reside in River Hills, Wisconsin, and they love to
explore nearby Chicago, ride rollercoasters and travel to far-flung places.
Hawaii is a family favorite (Snisky served on the Hawaii Visitors and
Convention Bureau board of directors for years), and Croatia is on deck for
their next escape. He’s grateful that his work allows for travel, and for the
flexibility to be a present parent.
“Life goes by fast, and tomorrow
isn’t promised,” he said. “A key part of being a leader is being a role model.
We all get really busy, and our to-do lists are overwhelming, but you have to
stop and realize what’s more important. I hope I’m conducting myself in a way
that inspires my team.
Legend of the West Award
Matthew Eichhorst
President, Expedia Cruises
Sponsored by Azamara Cruises
Matthew Eichhorst has been
committed to “a life of service” since he was young. At 15, he cleaned swimming
pools in his suburban Vancouver neighborhood. When that side hustle proved
successful, he got an aerial map of his town at City Hall, pinned it to his
bedroom wall and used it as a service solicitation guide. He learned how to
repair pool pumps and pipe leaks. By the time he graduated from high school,
Eichhorst was running a full business, installing above-ground pools with the
help of a crew of peers on payroll.
“I was a bit nerdy, and
definitely work-oriented,” Eichhorst said. “But that gave me an entrepreneurial
spirit.”
Eichhorst has long been adept at
discerning needs in the market and finding ways to address them, but he’s
always thought about people over product, he says. He got a computer science
degree and even started a technology company (which caught the attention of
IBM, and led to a successful partnership) while still in college. All the
while, he pondered how to use tech to “create efficiency in service.” His
prowess in the field, right when it was taking off, led to years of innovation
and consulting.
In the late ‘90s, Eichhorst sold
his company to General Electric, then helped rejuvenate tech company Infowave.
In 2002, travel agency CruiseShipCenters (now known as Expedia Cruises)
recruited him to helm its technology strategy and operations efforts.
Eichhorst estimates that
CruiseShipCenters had 60 brick-and-mortar locations and sold about $60 million
in travel annually when he first joined the team. Within a handful of years,
business grew four-fold. That caught the attention of Expedia.
“We decided to do a strategic
partnership with Expedia, selling 50% of the company, with a path for them to
buy the remaining 50% over six years,” Eichhorst explained. “Expedia told me
right at the very beginning, ‘We will allow you to be entrepreneurial.’ So, we
were off to the races, and started to expand in the U.S.”
Eichhorst was named president of
Expedia Cruises in 2009. Today, the company has about 250 retail locations (or
franchises) and 7,000 travel advisors in its ranks, and annual sales surpass
the $1 billion mark. Outstanding technology boosts advisor business, and
Expedia storefronts keep those advisors entrenched in the community (in-person
events often attract hundreds of clients). And if an online Expedia customer
calls the company’s 1-800 number, they are connected to an advisor in their
area. This is Expedia concierge service.
“People crave service,” Eichhorst
said. “We want reassurance that, when we are making big choices with our
dollars, we are getting it right.”
Eichhorst wants to help advisors
get it right, too, so he’s always looking at the data and supporting agents as
they leverage tech tools to grow their business. The ultimate goal? To help
them create unforgettable travel experiences for their clients. Eichhorst has
been striving for growth for decades, and he shows no sign of stopping.
“I go to work every day and try
to add value,” he said. “To be recognized for this, with this award, is
certainly humbling.”
