About the Author: Heidi Allison Society of Incentive and Travel Executives, and the North American Travel Journalists Association. She has worked extensively as a consultant to the travel industry, specializing in online marketing. She is also an avid cruiser, with over 60 cruise ship adventures under her belt. Her voyages have ranged from Glacier Bay in Alaska on a lovely Princess Cruises ship to Antarctica on the Marco Polo; from the rainforests of Central America to the remote Galapagos Islands on the Celebrity Xpedition; from St. Petersburg, Russia via the small ship Regent Seven Seas Navigator to the mystical lands of the Orient; from an Atlantic Crossing on the QM2 to a photo safari in Kenya. An innovative marketing and e-commerce pioneer and expert with 17+ years of experience developing sustainable websites and e-commerce, Ms. Allison has combined her Internet expertise with her love of travel. She cofounded CruiseCompete in 2003, and has counseled a wide range of successful companies in the travel industry on how to leverage the Internet to expand their markets and grow their businesses. Heidi has a strong background in travel, online marketing, e-commerce and entrepreneurship. In her most recent assignment with American Express, she was in charge of meetings, groups, and incentives for Ford Motor Company, including all subsidiary brands: Lincoln, Mercury, Mazda, Volvo, Jaguar, and Land Rover. Previously, she served as VP of Sales & Marketing for American Express Group & Incentive Services, managing numerous Fortune 500 companies’ meetings & incentives. She served as a regional sales manager overseeing the key territories of California and Florida (which produce
one third of US cruise travelers) for Princess Cruises and Norwegian American Line. In addition, Heidi had a short tenure with American Hawaii Cruises, with responsibility for the state of Texas. She also founded Allison & Taylor Inc., an online service specializing in background checks and pre-employment screening. She is an international consultant, avid traveler, and entrepreneur with a world-class client list, including CruiseCompete, VacationCompete, AllThingsCruise, Expert Travel Answers , Hawaii.com, TheBritishTraveler, CruiseMembersOnly, Crown Cruise Collection, Crown Cruise Vacations, Pepsi Bottling Group, Ford Motor Company’s Beanstalk, CruiseBrothers.com, and CareerBrain.com. Heidi has traveled and lectured with Lars-Eric Lindblad, who pioneered expedition travel, or “eco-tourism,” including the first expeditions to exotic locations such as Antarctica, Bhutan, China, Easter Island, and the Galapagos. “My love of travel has also contributed to my career,” says Heidi. “I have enjoyed over sixty cruises on numerous lines. In addition, I managed travel projects for numerous Fortune 100 companies during my tenure with American Express Groups & Incentive Services. My travels have taken me to Africa, the Caribbean, Canada, Europe, Mexico, North America, Asia, and South America, where I have had the pleasure of staying and also living in numerous four- and five-star resorts.” Heidi has been a guest speaker throughout her career and is quoted extensively on e-commerce and travel topics.
Heidi & Husband in the Princess Grill Dining room on the Gorgeous Queen Mary during a transatlantic crossing
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