Management

Born and raised in Germany, Wido started his career working for major international airlines in Frankfurt. He spent a year each in Nairobi, Kenya and Barcelona before being transferred to New York. After three years in the capital of the New World, Wido went West and started TravelStore in 1975 with two desks, two typewriters and one employee. Today, TravelStore is one of the most respected travel management companies in the US with nearly 300 associates and closing in on $200 million in annual sales. The company is ranked # 36 nationwide (2004) and the largest independent travel company in California.

Wido is active on the advisory boards of Four Seasons Hotels; Ritz Carlton Hotels; Orient-Express Hotel, Trains & Cruises; as well as Travel & Leisure Magazine. Wido's active lifestyle includes tennis, skiing and traveling the world. He and his son Brian also own and operate the Hotel Durant in Aspen, Colorado.

Wido is one of the "Three Travel Gurus" in Sally Horchow's article about adventure travel in Distinction Magazine. In 2005, Wido was awarded the "Leader in Luxury" award from TravelAgent Magazine.

Recent articles about Wido have appeared in:

Born in Argentina, Osvaldo came to the U.S. in 1979 as Comptroller, Western USA for Argentine Airlines. In 1985 he joined TravelStore to become the sole member of its Accounting Department. He now oversees most of the company’s operations, with an emphasis on Administration and Finances.

Osvaldo enjoys golfing, and is an enthusiastic soccer and Lakers fan. He enjoys traveling around the world splitting his time between restful vacations (a cruise in Tahiti), and active vacations (like a driving tour of Spain), as well as visiting family and friends in his beloved Buenos Aires. Osvaldo has been happily married to his wife Miriam for over 25 great years. They have two children, Martin and Andrea, both whom are college graduates.

“I have a beautiful life with my awesome probation officer wife and wonderful young daughter, Carlie!” Jim’s interests include a passion for adventure racing and ultra marathons. He competed in and placed 4th in the Brooks Muddy Buddy, Colorado Adventure Race; the Bull Dog 30k off road race; and the Balance Bar Adventure Sprint Series, a three-man adventure race that consist of kayaking, mountain biking and trail running with "Special Tests" along the route. He recently climbed Half Dome in Yosemite, a 19-mile hike. “My ultimate goal is to compete in an eco-challenge race.”

Dan got his start in travel soon after graduating as a triple major from USC in Political Science, Philosophy and Russian Studies. He helped establish the USC Student Travel Service in 1973, and began operating his own tours to Russia. Since then he has worked for tour operators and travel associations, including establishing and managing the cruise travel division of the AARP. Dan now oversees TravelStore’s leisure division and has been active on various travel advisory committees.

Dan’s commitment to travel has always been heightened by an awareness of tourism’s role in promoting understanding and peaceful relations between peoples of different nations and cultures and of the environment. China, Bali, Europe, South Africa, Galapagos and Hawaii, or anywhere at sea, are among Dan’s favorite destinations.

Dan is a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC), certified Master Cruise Counselor (MCC), and has been on over 40 cruises. “There is a serenity being at sea, an inner place I can touch, that I’ve rarely experienced anywhere else.” In a former life Dan was active on the poetry circuit, publishing a literary magazine, Stonecloud, and ran a co-op of independent literary publishers. He is also a limited partner in award-winning McKeon Phillips Winery.

Trudy Flores is a native Sacramentan and enjoys watching the changes and growth of the Valley and of the travel business. For more than two decades she has worked in many aspects of the industry including a ski tour operator, Leisure Agent, Corporate Agent and Management.

Trudy’s interests include traveling, skiing, the investment club she co-founded, and spending time with her husband of over 20 years and two sons. “Traveling is such an adventure and so educational” says Trudy. Her favorite place is Africa and its enchanting people. “I love the calmness that I feel in Africa. Never in my life have I experienced such serenity.” For Trudy and her family, vacations are of the utmost importance. “Traveling is a special time for family to enjoy each other, no matter how diverse our interests are. There’s one common thread-- we love to travel!”

I am a true California native born in Orange County in 1966. As a child I always had a fascination with electricity and how things worked mechanically, as when I stuck a knife in an electrical outlet, then a key, then my mom’s metal hair pick… it’s truly a miracle I lived through those experiences but to me an outlet meant an opportunity (and still does)!

In 1992 I was hired by TravelStore as an agent and became one of the top producers for corporate travel. I began to investigate technology in the travel industry and introduced the office to word processing, inter-office e-mail and a few other things! Before I knew it we had a complete network and I had created an entirely new position for myself. I have built and continue to manage the technology infrastructure that runs our branch locations and over 200+ users.

I live in the Los Angeles Valley, and enjoy spending my free time getting together with friends and family, hiking, going to the movies, theatre and out to dinner, and traveling. As a former agent I place a high value on customer service and I have the unique perspective of knowing what our agents must do to stay on top of the ever-changing travel industry. We have the very best agents the industry can offer and it’s my job to ensure that they have the best tools available.