Alex Urdaneta, CSTP: ‘Travel Is My Air, It’s My World.’

Alex J. Urdaneta, CSTP began his tourism journey at age 19 while working as a tour guide in Florida and New York City each summer during college. He made the move to Orlando in 2003 knowing his true passion—a career centered on travel, experiences and learning—was what he wanted to pursue.

Since then, Urdaneta has been dedicated to cultivating industry knowledge, working in roles including transport dispatcher, driver, chauffeur, travel consultant, sales supervisor, manager of operations and tourism director. Today, Urdaneta is ​​President and CEO of Viajes A Plus Inc. in San Juan, Puerto Rico, a company he created in 2008 focusing on educational trips for young people in Puerto Rico. The company also markets and organizes outbound trips to 18 international destinations and works with operators to receive inbound groups. In addition, Urdaneta has served on the Student & Youth Travel Association (SYTA) Board of Directors for the past four years, and is the current Board President.

Urdaneta, who embraces the cultures of Puerto Rico, Venezuela and the U.S., has seen firsthand how travel changes lives.

"Like many in our industry, I'm a living testimony to these powerful experiences," he said, explaining how following a family tragedy in the '80s, Urdaneta's mother ensured he and his sisters were always learning and having fun. "For almost eight years as a teenager, I had the opportunity to be a trombonist in a Marching Band, a foundation that provides music education and travel for young students in Venezuela. It was a life-changing opportunity and experience. My leadership, the way I saw the environment around me, and my ability to relate and adapt, was shaped with each trip and experience outside my community."

Industry changes abound, with Urdaneta pointing out one of the largest being climate change and weather, citing Hurricane Maria's massive impact.

"Whether it's concerns for safety or crisis planning, or adapting to changing environments, weather has been an emerging factor in all of our planning," he said, adding that focusing on emerging technology is also a priority. "Social media has become an important consideration in terms of communicating, marketing, personal privacy and negative consequences."

Urdaneta also encourages those new to the industry to work with heart, integrity, honesty and a sense of humor, along with being unafraid to try a new way of doing things.

Whether it's the first time a young person from the Caribbean witnesses snow in the mountains of Yosemite or the first time a student from Kentucky leaves the mainland U.S. to be immersed in Puerto Rico's rich culture, Urdaneta knows his work has a lasting impact. He's looking forward to continuing to inspire, engage in and impact the lives of young people.

"When I look back, I can say with a smile that with the help and support of many, I've provided great experiences for many young people," Urdaneta mused. "I love it and it's so much fun. Traveling and taking people to travel is my air ... it's my world."

DID YOU KNOW?
Urdaneta doesn't drink coffee or beer, feels most at home at an amusement park, is a painter and is in love with all things antique and vintage—including black and white movies.

Written by Sarah Suydam, Managing Editor for Groups Today.

This article originally appeared in the Jul/Aug '24 issue of Groups Today.

Photo courtesy of Alex J. Urdaneta