I have some sad news that I found out late yesterday afternoon. Phil Davidoff of Davidoff Associates has left us. You may remember both Phil and Doris from this past National Convention or a Seminar @ Sea they hosted this past December. Their understanding and acceptance of the YTB model won praise from many in our company and I am saddened to see him go so soon.

He past away Thursday morning in his home in Boca Raton, FL from pneumonia. He was 68.

Phil Davidoff, CTC, CTIE, MCC, was a leading travel industry professional who was also active in travel and tourism marketing, education and training. He was President of VALU Travel Marketing, Inc., the travel industry’s only consultiumsm from 1992 to 1997 and is co-founder and owner since 1969 of Belair Travel & Cruises and Fan Club Cruises in Florida. He was president of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) from October 1990 through September 1992 and had served as vice-president and president-elect prior to that. He also served on ASTA’s staff as Vice President Education & Training from 1982-1984.

Phil was a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC), Certified Travel Industry Executive (CTIE) and Life Member of The Travel Institute (formely ICTA) and had earned the Master Cruise Counselor (MCC) designation from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). He also served as a member of the tourism faculties of The George Washington University and Northern Virginia Community College.

Phil was a co-author with his wife of more than 40 years, Doris, of many books, and had been a presenter of a variety of seminars for many travel organizations.

Phil was chosen as 1991 Travel Person of the Year by Travel Agent magazine and was co-recipient with his wife, Doris, of Travel Trade magazine’s 1991 Travel Agent of the Year award. He was also co-recipient, with his wife, of the first annual Achievement Award from the Society of Travel & Tourism Educators in 1988. Phil served as a Director-at-Large on the Board of Directors of the Travel Industry Association of America from 1991 through 1993.

Phil held a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and had completed extensive graduate studies in Human Resource Development at The George Washington University.

Doris Davidoff told Travel Weekly she will phase out the cruise business and continue consulting. Phil is also survived by two sons, a daughter and five grandchildren.

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