HICKORY GLOBAL PARTNERS, LLC
DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA

Educate agents about new products and opportunities using state-of-the-art technologies At Hickory Global Partners, we've brought a fresh approach to the consortia space. We're solving the challenges that have made participation in a consortium an increasingly difficult decision for agencies and suppliers alike. Our mission is to forge long and mutually beneficial relationships with our agencies and suppliers and deliver measurable results. Chris Dane, President, Hickory Global Partners To do this, we’ve evolved the model, building a platform to eliminate the data challenges inherent in traditional consortia. Partner Agencies/CTD's have access to quality rate programs, products and services designed to make their businesses more efficient and profitable. Supplier Partners receive measurable ROI and extensive distribution and marketing opportunities across the Hickory global network. Founded more than 40 years ago, Hickory Travel Systems was acquired by INTRAVEL in April 2011 and re-launched as Hickory Global Partners. The new management team is led by seasoned executives from top travel companies. Building on the long heritage of the Hickory brand and under new management, Hickory Global Partners will become a leading utility for agencies and suppliers alike. Mr. Christopher (“Chris”) Dane brings over 40 years of experience in the Travel industry to his role as President of Hickory Global Partners, where he is passionate about pursuing a leadership role for the company through innovation, relationship-building with decision-makers and other stakeholders – on all sides of the business, and driving change. Across his career, Chris has consulted in a wide range of capacities for a variety of traditional and new economy travel-related entities, including at Hickory Global Partners in 2005 through early 2006. Previously, his roles included acting as interim COO for two dot-com travel-related start-ups and consulting on strategic planning initiatives for Sabre, Travelport, and other mega-corporations in the industry. Other projects have included developing and directing sales, marketing planning and implementation functions for a number of other travel-related companies. Chris has also held key executive positions in the airline, travel agency, tour operator, and consortia sectors. Mark Miller has built a career spanning 30 years, proving his value as a top management executive by leveraging his notable strengths in change management, strategic planning, P&L/finance, customer relationship management, business process operations, and motivational team leadership. Mr. Miller has served in key operational leadership roles, directing critical turnaround and growth initiatives. His career began with a tour operator in Boston GWV Travel and has been with industry leading organizations including Garber Travel and American Express. Most recently as an independent consultant with Beacon Travel Consulting where he provided business management expertise to firms seeking to control costs, improve operational processes, upgrade systems, implement automation/technology, better serve the customer base, and effectively manage growth. In this capacity, Mr. Miller served as a hands-on business partner to develop policies and procedures, implement improvements and recommend products, tools, and services aligned with the customer’s needs and short- and long-term goals. Mr. Miller has earned the respect of a multitude of corporate firms and national suppliers throughout his career, noted by numerous awards and honors. He relies on his strong communication, interpersonal, and consensus-building skills to forge productive, sustainable relationships across all levels. His core leadership competencies include the ability to devise strategies that position operations to thrive in the face of challenges, the capacity for discovering new opportunities to generate revenue, and a proven record of delivering significant gains in earnings, performance, and financial results. Managing Director, Business Development and Partner Care Michael White leads HICKORY’s global business development efforts, bringing more than 30 years of travel industry experience to the role. He has held a wide-range of travel industry roles that have provided him with a unique perspective in his quest for client and sales excellence. This includes business development, account management and leadership tenures at Air France, Northwest Airlines and most recently Delta Air Lines, where he held a key position in Global Sales charged with the energy sector channel. Michael advocated for products and services for this highly specialized revenue stream as well as shaped global sales strategy in partnership with Delta Air Lines and its joint venture partners including Travel Management partners which resulted in significant incremental revenues and client satisfaction. Michael has lived abroad in Toronto, Canada and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and, as a child, his family moved to New Delhi, India, which proved to inspire his love for travel and adventure. He earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration and has attained travel industry designations, including: Certified Travel Consultant (Travel Institute), Certified Meeting Planner (Meeting Planners International), and certified Travel Executive (Global Business Travel Association). Michael lives in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Annette Bonavito brings more than a quarter century of travel industry experience to her position as Hotel Partners Manager. After attending college and advanced courses in Travel Industry Management, she began her career with Hickory Travel Systems in the 24-hour emergency call center where she excelled. Identified as a steadfast and conscientious team player with excellent customer relations and problem solving skills, Ms. Bonavito was appointed to create, implement and manage the Hickory Travel Systems hotel help desk to provide services to agency members and hotel partners. Additionally, Ms. Bonavito managed the hotel program daily operations as well as marketing and advertising initiatives.