2024 Next Gen: Charley Troggio
Charley Troggio is one of the 2024 Next Gens, as nominated by Groups Today readers for making a difference in the industry with her fresh, progressive perspective.
Charley Troggio, Tour Operator and Office Manager, Breakaway Tours
The biggest thing that drew Charley Troggio, Tour Operator and Office Manager, Breakaway Tours, to the group travel industry is family. Though she's been working at Breakaway Tours since graduating from West Liberty University in 2018, Troggio has been immersed in the travel industry all her life.
"Breakaway Tours is Co-Owned by Christine LaCivita and Charlene Troggio; Charlene is my grandmother and she's been taking me on bus tours since I was eight years old," Troggio said, noting her favorite destination they visited when she was a child was New York City. "Some of my favorite memories include going to the bodega outside the Travel Inn and walking around the room in the fancy hotel robe (remember, I was only eight). I remember meeting so many different group sales contacts on our tours, who became friends, and I knew that I would always have a place here."
What intrigues Troggio most about the industry is how many different experiences can come from it.
"I love that I can go to so many different places and see the coolest things about them," she said. "It's not just the travel experience, but it's experiencing the best things that place has to offer."
Troggio has been able to enhance Breakaway Tours' already incredibly successful business by updating their back and front office systems, as well as the website and their social media presence.
"My favorite accomplishment has been creating our in-office reservation system," Troggio explained. "It's completely free and decreases my stress level. I am able to keep track of all reservations, payments, seating charts and rooming list. It has made things so much more efficient."
Looking ahead into the future, Troggio has a lot of goals and different ideas in the future about how to attract a younger generation to group travel.
"My next idea is what I like to call Active Adventures," Troggio said. "This would bring a whole new generation to us and gear these tours to being a little more fast paced and keep them moving!"
Charley Troggio is one of the 2024 Next Gens, as nominated by Groups Today readers for making a difference in the industry with her fresh, progressive perspective. Click here to see the January/February feature.
Written by Sarah Suydam, Managing Editor for Groups Today.
