Everyone at Covington Travel knows that our President and CEO, Josée Covington’s favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. She consistently expresses her thanks to the Covington staff for our work, so as Thanksgiving approaches, Travel Maestro asked her to share some of her personal reasons to be thankful.

I am thankful every day of every week, and the Thanksgiving season is my special time to reflect on all the good things that have come my way during the year and the wonderful people and circumstances that helped make them happen. I owe big thank you’s to so many for so much.

First and foremost, as a naturalized immigrant from Luxembourg, I am thankful for all that this great country of ours makes possible for anyone lucky enough to be living in it. Our country has given me the opportunity to build my own company and create employment for 85 amazing individuals who are now helping me celebrate the beginning of our 50th year in business. How can I ever be thankful enough?!

I am thankful to our loyal clients for their trust in us. I am thankful to my employees who work their hearts out to provide our travelers with a level of global service that is second to none.

I am especially thankful to my wonderful family for their love and support. And to show my appreciation I treated all 16 family members to a two-week vacation in Luxembourg and Paris this summer. It was the ultimate multi-generational experience: our group consisted of teenage and younger Millennials, thirty-something Gen Xers, Baby Boomers, and great-grandparents.

I got to show my American families where I lived as a child and they learned about my heritage. When we visited with my Luxembourg family, the youngsters were amazing. Two Luxembourg and five Americans kids meeting for the first time, not speaking each other’s languages, but picking up words from each other and communicating by body language.

Among the highlights of the trip was a big beautiful bus, the back seats of which became the kids’ clubhouse and play center as we toured. We visited General Patton’s memorial museum in Ettelbruck, of the Battle of the Bulge fame; Vianden Castle, where we took part in a Medieval Festival; and took a three-hour luncheon cruise on the Moselle River, followed by Luxembourg wine tasting. Dinner one evening was in a village café with its own Keelespillen (duckpin bowling) alley right next to the dinner table, which by then was set for 22 of us – and nearly as long as the Keelespillen alley!

In Paris, all my family got to see and feel the vibrant life of that magnificent city where I once lived and now visit as often as I can.

What fun it was to enjoy the diverse European cultures together as an extended family! For all of these joyful experiences in my life, I remain

Your thankful friend,

Josée