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SECRETS WILD ORCHID:  The Best Kept “Secret” in Jamaica

Usually it takes me a few days just to unwind when I arrive at a resort – and by that time, my vacation is halfway over.  This is why I chose Secrets Wild Orchid in Montego Bay, Jamaica, for my destination wedding and honeymoon:  I walk in, and by the time I see the bottom of my Welcome Cocktail glass, I feel completely relaxed and at home.

As founder and CEO of Elite Travel, I’ve specialized in helping couples play their dream vacations, destination weddings and honeymoons for over a decade.  So, when it was my turn to be the bride, I knew exactly what I wanted and where I wanted it.  Secrets Wild Orchid had everything on my dream wedding wish list:  incredible service, a beautiful new property, and a wedding ceremony and reception price tag of under $1,000.

I’ve been coming to the resort since they opened in 2010 – In fact, I’ve been back so many times that the resort staff feels like my own family.  While I may be one of the few guests who can say the resort’s general manager walked me down the aisle (how is that for full service?), I’m not the only one to feel something special for this place.

User review sites are cluttered with positive comments about the service; it’s the kind of resort where not only does the staff remember your name, but you remember theirs.  This special environment is created by the close-knit group of owners who treat the property like their own boutique resort.  Guests feel that genuine care and attention to detail in every part of their experience.

Having been to some of the most beautiful resorts in the world, I can safely say that I don’t believe in roughing it.  Not my style.  It’s not Secrets’ style either: Every room in the resort is a suite, complete with a Jacuzzi tub, sitting area and balcony or patio with an exceptional view.  And, the amenities only go up from there with top shelf liquor and a world-class spa.  In my opinion – which I thoroughly researched during my honeymoon – Secrets Wild Orchid has one of the best spas out of all of the AM Resort properties.

An Ambitious vacationer could start the day with watersports, spend an afternoon at the Spa getting wrapped, scrubbed and polished from head-to-toe and enjoy an evening full of the best Jamaican music groups on the island.  Or, spend a week like I did, lounging in a cabana for hours on end, stretching only to request refills on my mojito.

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In true Tammy Levent style, she asked her friend, Dr. Cesar Lara, to have his most successful weight loss clients model Greek inspired fashions from Lending LUXURY. These ladies and gentleman were over the top proud to strut their stuff to a crowd of cheering guests. From the red carpet greeting with her signature Tammytini to the room filled with decadent chocolate dessert, all the way to the cigar bar, Tammy’s mission was to raise money for her favorite charity, Joshua House. You might ask what inspired Tammy Levent? When her daughter, Katie, was 16 years old, she volunteered and sang for the children at Joshua House. As a single mother, struggling to raise her own children, Tammy watched in amazement as the Joshua House children’s faces lit with joy at her daughter’s live performance. She never forgot the day that she witnessed her daughter make such an impact on abused, abandoned, and neglected children. She vowed that when her business was successful she would make every effort to give back to Joshua House too.

Now in its fourth year, Tammy uses her own personal birthday celebration to raise funds for her mission; to make a difference in the lives of the children at Joshua House. She accepts no presents, only gifts of sponsorship and support towards her cause. She even has her travel agency provide fabulous trips for the auction and throughout the year she gives 2% to Joshua House when people book their travel through Elite Travel and refer to Joshua House at their booking.

Although the party is long over, Tammy isn’t done yet; she is even offering more vacation packages for auction through September 1st. With three trips available, and all proceeds going towards Friends of Joshua House Foundation, it is a win-win opportunity. Call our office for details on how to bid for all inclusive vacations to Greece, Secrets Wild Orchid and Hard Rock Punta Cana.

Sincerely,
DeDe Grundel

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More than 17 years later, Elite Travel Management Group owns more than two dozen websites, including eliteincentivetravel.com, eliteluxurytravel.net, and honeymoongiveaway.com, which ranks as one of Google’s top search results for “honeymoon travel information.” With more than 22 employees, and contractors throughout the United States, Elite Travel earned its reputation as one of the best travel management groups in the industry. Additionally, the agency’s Luxury Travel, Corporate Travel and Incentives Divisions are standard bearers for optimal efficiency, staff expertise and stellar customer service.

Because of our high level of service, Elite Travel was chosen to be an exclusive American Express Travel Agency. We are also a Platinum Preferred Agency Couples Resort for eleven years in a row, an American Express Vacations Global Award Worldwide Best of the Best Agency for twelve years in a row, a Best of the Best Sandals Agency, and we “Ranked 3rd” in the Fastest 50 growing companies in the Tampa Bay area in 2007, and 13th in 2008. Also in 2008, I was invited by the Tourism Commission of Barbados to speak to the country’s top hoteliers and resort leaders on developing the island as wedding destination, and Barbados officials chose Elite Travel Group to represent the country as it develops its new destination weddings and honeymoons plan.

Honors & Awards Include
• 2012 Feature in her first number one selling book – Women Who Mean Business
• 2012 Editors choice awards Women Who Mean Business
• 2011 Launch of her “www.WHIPitoutshow” (Women have infinite Power in Themselves) including I WHIP IT Workshops and Retreats
• Corporate Sub-committee of the Board for Ruth Eckerd Hall Foundation
• 2011 Featured in The Crave Book
• Advisory board for the Sustainable Entrepreneurship & Innovation Alliance at the University of South Florida
• 2011 Inducted and honoree in the World’s Who’s Who
• 2010 Made it to a Million Award – National E! Women’s Network
• 2011 Speaker & Sponsor, 1st Tampa Bays Womens Conference
• 2011 Women Extraordinaire Award
• NSA – National Speakers Association member
• Member: CLIA, IATAN, Tahiti Tiare Certified agency, Certified Destination Wedding Specialists
• Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultant for El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels as well as Azul Hotels by Karisma Elite Award Winner “Top 10 Selling Agency for El Dorado Royal”
• Official Travel Sponsor, Tampa PWG show sponsors, Elite Events in Atlanta
• Feature articles published in The Perfect Wedding Guide, Bride’s Magazine, Modern Bride, Florida Bride, For the Bride, The Robb Report, Conde Nast Traveler, Weddzilla.com, Tampa Style Magazine, Panache Vue, Pulse Magazine
• Platinum Preferred Agency Couples Resorts 14 years in a row
• Master Agent with AMResorts
• Travel Impressions/ American Express Vacations Global Award worldwide Best of the Best Agency 14 years in a row
• Best of the Best Sandals Agency
• 2005, 2006, 2007 Fast 50 top growing companies in Tampa Bay
• 2011 National Diversity Council -Finalist Glass Ceiling Award
• 2002, 2008 and 2012 Finalist Tampa Bay Business Woman of the Year
• 2008 Finalist TBBJ Ultimate CEO of the Year
• NBC Travel Show -Destination Wedding & Honeymoon Seminar presented by Tammy Levent
Featured on NBC’s Hollywood’s “Extra”
• 2001 to present Top 25 Women Owned Business, in the TampaBay Business Journal Book of Lists

As an expert on honeymoons and destination weddings, I have written many featured articles for national and local publications including The Perfect Wedding Guide, Florida Bride, For the Bride, Tampa Bay Business Journal, Travel Weekly Spotlights, PeterGreenberg.com, AOL’s Aisle Dash, and Brides.com, among many others. Additionally, I was the travel expert for Consumer Update on ABC Television in Tampa, Florida, and have partnered with NBC Travel Shows in Chicago and Miami where I coordinated the Honeymoon Pavilion and conducted seminars for brides-to-be.

Profession & Company

When I started working in the travel industry, the emphasis was on collecting quick money for trips that were only a picture, a reference chart of prices, and dates of availability. We were told to keep the information as general as possible to limit the chances of customers complaining, and then we left the customers alone once their tickets were in-hand.

That’s never been the way I do business. And early on, my dedication to giving my clients real service began to distance me from other agents and agencies to the point where they tried to reel me in. That’s when I decided it was time to form my own company around my ethics and style of customer service and support.

One of my first mandates was that every Elite agent had to have actually traveled to the destinations we
represent so they could honestly, and expertly, serve our travelers with personal knowledge. This not only re-assures our customers, many of whom are first-time travelers, but also helps prevent unwelcome surprises that could disappoint them on their trips.

Elite Travel’s honest approach to selling travel comes naturally to me and has been the foundation of my reputation with my customers and within the travel community.

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“Congratulations, you’ve won a trip to the Bahamas!”
(For four days you’ll be bombarded with timeshare sellers on a boat in the Caribbean).
I apologize.

I sold trips to entire families and their friends – so many that I was quickly promoted to training new telemarketers. Tammy the Trainer, they called me. At the last holiday party, my trainees gave me a gag gift of a small whip, and as I sat at my desk drilling telemarketing wisdom into new recruits over the phone, I started playing with it. I’d practice aiming and whipping a single pen out of my pen holder.

Whipping around office supplies requires focus, and more than a little coordination. It’s a small, silly thing, but when you feel like you have no control over the big things, finding that you have control over something small is significant.

It’s easy to feel like your circumstances define you, but the truth I found – through whipping pens out of cups – is that We Have Infinite Power to control our futures.

My WHIP reminds me of that every day, and now I use it to remind you of your infinite power.

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I was speaking to a class of students from USF St. Petersburg’s Entrepreneurship Program, and while most of the students sat politely during my talk, one of them was in the front row constantly asking questions. What caught my attention was that he was asking the right kinds of questions and had some great ideas. After class ended, he came up and asked me if I would mentor him. I knew that kind of nerve is what makes a great entrepreneur, and his enthusiasm was contagious.

Over the last two years he has come to me with professional and personal issues, and we have formed a strong friendship. I coached him so well that the first job he got out of college paid 80K a year, and since then I have kept him in my network so he can meet the people who can help him achieve his next goals.

I have gone on to mentor several other people, and each experience has been so personally rewarding that I was moved to expand my circle through workshops and keynote speaking events. I’m always happy to sit down

Nassim – Testimonial

My relationship with Tammy is actually very unique. I guess the best way to explain it is, it’s a hybrid of a personal and professional relationship. When introduced to Tammy I was serving as the first elected president for USF Saint Petersburg’s Entrepreneurship program. As an aspiring entrepreneur I understood the importance of having a mentor. After listing to Tammy’s lecture I liked the fact that she was honest, upfront and did not sugarcoat anything. So without her knowing I volunteered her to be my mentor. Once our professional relationship was established I would always ask Tammy for personal and professional advice. Her feedback was always heartfelt and backed by experience.

My personally relationship with Tammy allows me to be as open and honest as I want. We openly discuss relationship issues, financial struggles and family feud’s. It’s a euphoric feeling to know that someone this successful is very down to earth. I admire her hard work and passion for business. She always has a master plan and 99.99% of the time it doesn’t fail. Tammy sit on many boards and is very charitable, I admire that because to me that’s a sign of someone who is compassionate and giving. She may not know this but because of her I have dedicated more time to philanthropy and on my journey of doing so I have accepted the role as an executive officer for Dixie Hollins High school’s football booster program and I volunteer at several nonprofit originations.

My professional relationship with Tammy goes beyond just shaking hands and talking business. She is basically my personal liaison as I am hers. I regularly receive special invitations from her to attend professional networking and charity events within the Tampa bay area. She makes it a point to introduce me to every one she knows so by the end of the event I’m walking out with two pockets full of business cards and a future full of opportunities.

I could go on and on about how much I admire her work and or success, but then again her work speaks for its self. I love Tammy and I always look forward to our talks, texts and meetings.

Nassim

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Introducing Tammy Levent’s book
Women Who Mean Business

Purchase your Digital Download Now:

Strategic Partnerships: What You Need When You Have Nothing
By Tammy Levent

Part 1: Story

I had owned our jewelry store with my then-husband in Florida for five years when robbers stole ninety-percent of the inventory, forcing us to close. Six months later, my grandmother passed out at the wheel of her car and crashed into the brick wall of a house while driving my two young children, ages nine and two. My grandmother died in the crash, my son and daughter woke up in the ICU with severe injuries. The life we had been building was lost in less than six months. House payments and medical bills piled up; our savings quickly drained.

Sometimes fate can hit you so hard all you can do is reel from the blow. I didn’t know how to start living my life again, how to get my identity back, how to even begin to rebuild. But at some point, you have to stand up – for your family and for yourself – and take hold of your inner power to survive. I believe women have infinite power in themselves to create the lives they want, no matter what their challenges are, no matter what circumstances made up their pasts. How do you begin to build the life you want? Strategic partnerships are what you need when you have nothing.

I was sitting in the ICU, having just quit a telemarketing job I took after the jewelry store went under, consumed with uncertainties……..

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Introducing Tammy Levent’s book
Women Who Mean Business

Purchase your Digital Download Now:

Strategic Partnerships: What You Need When You Have Nothing
By Tammy Levent

Part 1: Story

I had owned our jewelry store with my then-husband in Florida for five years when robbers stole ninety-percent of the inventory, forcing us to close. Six months later, my grandmother passed out at the wheel of her car and crashed into the brick wall of a house while driving my two young children, ages nine and two. My grandmother died in the crash, my son and daughter woke up in the ICU with severe injuries. The life we had been building was lost in less than six months. House payments and medical bills piled up; our savings quickly drained.

Sometimes fate can hit you so hard all you can do is reel from the blow. I didn’t know how to start living my life again, how to get my identity back, how to even begin to rebuild. But at some point, you have to stand up – for your family and for yourself – and take hold of your inner power to survive. I believe women have infinite power in themselves to create the lives they want, no matter what their challenges are, no matter what circumstances made up their pasts. How do you begin to build the life you want? Strategic partnerships are what you need when you have nothing.

I was sitting in the ICU, having just quit a telemarketing job I took after the jewelry store went under, consumed with uncertainties……..

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Tammy Levent didn’t have the energy to think of an intricate answer, so she said the first thing that came to her mind: “I would travel the world.” From that moment, she realized that was her passion and her goal. In 1995, with no assets, she leveraged strategic partnerships to build Elite Travel, which has since skyrocketed into one of the fastest growing, most trusted travel groups in the nation for corporate incentive, leisure, destination wedding and honeymoon travel. Elite Travel has the distinction of being named an American Express agency.

GET WHIPPED with Tammy Levent

Levent devotes herself to helping other women discover the power they have to change their lives, no matter what their circumstances. She sums up her mantra of success in the acronym “I WHIP IT” – meaning Incredible Women Have Infinite Power In Themselves. I WHIP IT was born when Tammy held her first whip while sitting at her desk training employees in sales at her telemarketing job. For the first time in years, she felt like she had control. She took that feeling and ran with it.

With her new web show whipitoutshow.com and her day-long WHIPshops™ that “take the work out of it,” Tammy guides other women – whip in hand – to find their courage, declare their goals, and use strategic partnerships to make those goals happen. Unlike many speakers, Tammy doesn’t stop at motivation; she gives immediately usable step-by-step instruction on how to create a business and lifestyle around your passion.

Tammy Levent is the CEO of Elite Travel and single mother of Katie, 26 and Jordan, 20. She is the author of the bestselling book Women Who Mean Business, and lives in Tampa, Florida with her better half, Rob. She owns an impressive collection of whips. Tune in to her show on www.Whipitoutshow.com and to book Tammy Levent visit www.TammyLevent.com.

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