Covington News ArchivesÂ
Why Thanksgiving is my Favorite Holiday
by Josée Covington, President and CEO
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it’s a day not only to celebrate, but to reflect upon and be thankful for our good fortunes. For the most part we – all of us – don’t realize how lucky we are to be living in this country of opportunity. Yes, it is still that! Where else could I have started my own business on a shoe string and succeeded for 47 years?
The Thanksgiving holiday is so meaningful to me, that since 1967 it has been tradition to hold our annual company meeting, our “State of Covington Address,” in proximity to the holiday.
This lets me share the spirit of the season by showing my gratitude to all of our employees for their hard work during yet another successful year. We look at what we have accomplished in the past and how we will go strongly forward into the future that lies ahead for our industry and Covington Travel.
_______________
Covington Travel Recognizes Employees for Loyalty and Service
During our recent company meeting, more commonly known as “SOCA” or the “State of the Covington Address,” Josée Covington, President & CEO, recognized colleagues who are celebrating their 20- and 25-year milestone anniversaries at Covington Travel. Read More about our outstanding colleagues!
______________
An International Story of Love and Travel Leads to U.S. Naturalization
Dominic Bradley, corporate travel advisor in Covington Travel’s Charlottesville, Virginia office, officially became a United States citizen on September 17, 2014.
Many of us who make our careers in the travel industry find travel woven throughout the fabric of our lives. Whether it’s born of nature or nurture, we tend to gravitate to travel, sometimes without conscious decision, and it often influences the course of our lives. Such is the story of Dominic Bradley’s path to U.S. Naturalization.
The staff of Covington Travel congratulates Dominic on his accomplishment, particularly Josée Covington, our company’s president and CEO, who is also a proud naturalized U.S. citizen. Read more
 ________________
Virginia’s First Lady of Travel
President and CEO of Richmond-based Covington Travel, Josée Covington was recently interviewed by Virginia Living Magazine.
The consummate traveler and classically-trained cellist originally from Luxembourg shared her thoughts about the travel industry, her favorite destinations and the true meaning of luxury.
Click here for the interview, plus travel tips for summer adventures from the experts at Covington Travel.
__________________
COVINGTON WELCOMES NEW AND RETURNING ASSOCIATES
Covington welcomes back three travel professionals to support the growth of our business travel division. Three of the four new associates had previously worked for Covington. July 2013
Read about their new roles.
NEW FACES
Covington is pleased to announce the addition of four knowledgeable and talented vacation advisors from Crossroads Travel Richmond. May 2013
Learn more about the vacation advisors who have joined Covington.
COVINGTON PROMOTES PITZER AND ADDS NEW ACCOUNT MANAGER
Pitzer has been promoted to Director of Business Travel Services and Allie Beckenstein has recently joined Covington as Account Manager. March 2013
TRAVEL AGENTS MAKE A COMEBACK
As distances increase, the benefit of using a travel agent grows. Consumers are returning to traditional agents after being burned by online services.
Ken Gassman, one of Covington’s client traveled throughout the world on business. “I never used travel agents because somebody else was paying,” the Hanover County financial analyst said. But “I’m now trying to retired, so any travel I do now is personal., which means I have to foot the bill.”
He and his wife wanted to take their granddaughter to Europe for two weeks, and when he started pricing the cost of the flights and hotels rooms, “I nearly had a heart attack.”
So he called JosĂ©e Covington, and her Covington Travel agency saved him $2,100 on the air fares and $2,800 on the hotel rooms. “I thought a travel agent was going to cost me money,” he said. “I have been shown that a travel agent save me big money. (July 2012)
SPACE TOURISM: COVINGTON HAS THE RIGHT STUFF
Covington was recognized in the July 2012 issue of Richmond Magazine as one of the few agencies certified to sell tickets aboard Virgin’s SpaceShipTwo.
Virgin hopes that its first rocket-powered space flight will take place before year’s end. “It’s a privilege to be a part of making history,” says Karen Kilyk, a local travel advisor with Covington and accredited space agent with Virgin Galactic. Contact karenk@covtrav.com. Â
SPECIALISTS IN THE ART OF TRAVEL: COVINGTON TRAVEL SET THE INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE
Covington is one of the premiere Virginia businesses featured in the annual issue of Kleos Magazine. Forty-four years ago, Josée Covington created what would become a vital and respected member of the business community in Virginia and beyond. Now, Covington Travel sets the standard for its industry in ways some might call, out of this world.
“Nothing is as important as the relationships we build with our clients, our suppliers, and our own colleagues. Not even the bottom line.” —JosĂ©e Covington, President and CEO
READ MORE (JULY 2011)
COVINGTON TRAVEL “STRENGTH IN NUMBERS” DRAWING PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR WCVE’S SPRING CAMPAIGN
During WCVE’s recent Spring Campaign, Covington Travel donated two round-trip airline tickets for the station’s Strength in Numbers’ Drawing. Our goal was to provide WCVE’s listening audience with an added incentive to support their campaign efforts.  (MAY 2011)
Contact us or more information regarding our travel services.