Claudia menezes model

Everyone has that one person in their circle; that trusted individual you can go to for informed guidance, sage advice, valuable experience and more. That person who never fails to bring fresh ideas to the table and challenges what has always been in order to build something better. In the group travel industry, these are the leaders who have risen to the surface as folks who are always willing to try new things, bolster innovation within the industry, drive others in a positive direction, and are recognizable among group travel professionals as someone who can be relied upon.

We asked our readers to share who among their industry peers should be recognized for their efforts in this realm. Those who were selected to be among the Influencers of Group Travel were featured in a recent issue of Groups Today. Keep reading to get to know them! Born in Brazil to a family of trailblazers in the travel industry, Claudia Menezes was exposed to the world of travel at a young age and her passion for the industry has only grown since.

She has spent over 30 years founding and managing various tour companies, and has held the position of Vice President and Owner of GoPegasus alongside her husband since Menezes is always looking for opportunities for innovation and, with her team, strives to push the boundaries to offer new ideas and experiences for groups, including a newly-launched program: Art on Wheels.

Followers, Following, 32 Posts - Claudia

This is just one of the ways that we look to constantly add to the overall experience. It's the little things that often make the biggest impact. For Menezes, being part of the travel industry means coming in with passion—something she and her team do well. At the end of the day, when someone is booking with us, we strive to be synonymous with loyalty, integrity and every experience we build for a group is centered around this.

While there have been many lessons along the way, Menezes believes that every challenge is simply an opportunity in disguise. We know that if we do it right, it's not about instant reward but building a solid foundation and the benefit will come later. When it comes to what others can do to be influencers in their own group travel circles, Menezes says it's all about networking.

It's not always about the bottom line," Menezes explains.