Meet Our Travel Specialists
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Ellen Mayer, President
Independent Travel Agent, SE Asia Specialist
Ellen, a Full Professor at California State University for nearly 30 years, is now Professor Emeritus with both expertise and a passion for Southeast Asia travel. For the past 18 years, she has been planning travel in Asia for groups large and small. Ellen has traveled extensively within Asia and Southeast Asia, getting to know the people, the ethnography, and the culture, as well as the local travel resources to make each trip unique, exciting and enjoyable. She customizes itineraries and leads trips in this area for nationally known and international travel companies and recently, with international consulates. She is making her expertise work for you! Ellen is an independent travel agent affiliated with Upul's Travel Service, Los Angeles ( IATA, ASTA,CLIO, IATAN certified) and works with highly recognized leaders in providing travel services worldwide.
Ellen Mayer, President
Independent Travel Agent, SE Asia Specialist
Ellen, a Full Professor at California State University for nearly 30 years, is now Professor Emeritus with both expertise and a passion for Southeast Asia travel. For the past 18 years, she has been planning travel in Asia for groups large and small. Ellen has traveled extensively within Asia and Southeast Asia, getting to know the people, the ethnography, and the culture, as well as the local travel resources to make each trip unique, exciting and enjoyable. She customizes itineraries and leads trips in this area for nationally known and international travel companies and recently, with international consulates. She is making her expertise work for you! Ellen is an independent travel agent affiliated with Upul's Travel Service, Los Angeles ( IATA, ASTA,CLIO, IATAN certified) and works with highly recognized leaders in providing travel services worldwide.
Jack Mayer, Vice President
Jack holds a Ph.D. in history, and has 40 years of experience in the non-profit and educational worlds. He has lived in Europe, led numerous group trips throughout Israel, Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, as well as throughout Asia and India, giving him a unique perspective on world travel. He is a competitive racing sailor, enthusiastic traveler, and a consultant on strategic planning and development in the non-profit world.
Jack holds a Ph.D. in history, and has 40 years of experience in the non-profit and educational worlds. He has lived in Europe, led numerous group trips throughout Israel, Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, as well as throughout Asia and India, giving him a unique perspective on world travel. He is a competitive racing sailor, enthusiastic traveler, and a consultant on strategic planning and development in the non-profit world.
Arlene Ferris, Associate Director/ Marketing
Ms Ferris has been working as for Asian Odysseys as Associate Director/ Marketing since 2010. She brings her involvement and experience in the New York/ east coat area to our West Coast headquartered organization.
After a career in retail and HR, she joined the Asian Odysseys staff to capitalize on her love of travel and her marketing background. She has extensive experience in travel throughout Europe ( Italy, England, Spain, Morocco and France), South Africa, South America and throughout Asia ( Myanmar , India, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Nepal, China and Hong Kong.)
As a committee member in several of New York’s leading museums in New York such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Morgan and the Whitney and a leading board member of the Transitional Network for Women (NY), she has been able to promote FIT and group tours in South America and in Asia for Asian Odysseys. She has extensive connections at NYU Medical Center and has recruited clients from there. We have also worked together to market and design itineraries and tour arrangements for Semester at Sea participants throughout Asia . (multigenerational). She has been an invaluable aid in growing our small boutique organization whose goal is providing luxury, personalized , and often unique, travel experiences to a sophisticated client base.
Ms Ferris has been working as for Asian Odysseys as Associate Director/ Marketing since 2010. She brings her involvement and experience in the New York/ east coat area to our West Coast headquartered organization.
After a career in retail and HR, she joined the Asian Odysseys staff to capitalize on her love of travel and her marketing background. She has extensive experience in travel throughout Europe ( Italy, England, Spain, Morocco and France), South Africa, South America and throughout Asia ( Myanmar , India, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Nepal, China and Hong Kong.)
As a committee member in several of New York’s leading museums in New York such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Morgan and the Whitney and a leading board member of the Transitional Network for Women (NY), she has been able to promote FIT and group tours in South America and in Asia for Asian Odysseys. She has extensive connections at NYU Medical Center and has recruited clients from there. We have also worked together to market and design itineraries and tour arrangements for Semester at Sea participants throughout Asia . (multigenerational). She has been an invaluable aid in growing our small boutique organization whose goal is providing luxury, personalized , and often unique, travel experiences to a sophisticated client base.
