My History. In my young years I attended the Hotel school in Florence, Italy. We studied the 4 most important European languages such as English French, German and Spanish, Hotel Technique, Travel Agency Technique and all other school subjects like mathematics, accounting etc. Then we were sent to do stages abroad: England, France, Switzerland and also Italy. After returning to Florence having finished school I started working as interpreter for American Express.
After a couple of years I started working at the travel dept. and I had the chance of programming a tour around the world for the owner of an art gallery located between the Excelsior and the Grand Hotel in Florence, The cost was 5 million lire in 1962. There were no computers in those days so we had to make all the bookings sending cables around the world to Amexco offices or correspondents, was a great experience and everything worked and the client was happy. After 5 years I took over an Agency located by the Cathedral and was doing very good but did not last long. The Florence flood in 1966,put an end to it and I was forced to give it up.
After a few years in the States I opened Skyway International still in Florence but by then the number of agencies had raised to over 100. People with no experience started giving discounts off their own commission to attract clients.The Deregulation of the air fares and later Internet was the end of classic travel agents so I sold it. Now I am retired and since I have not lost the passion for my profession I run a travel website. I am affiliated with some very good Tour Operators and still enjoy it.
