“If it’s not on Facebook, it didn’t happen.”  That’s Michael Holtz, Owner and CEO of SmartFlyer, a Manhattan-based luxury travel agency, speaking of his dedication to the social network. He’s half kidding but he’s half not.   Holtz’s postings  on his own Facebook page are a continuous flow of photos of his meet-ups with top  industry suppliers and colleagues, as well as his visits  to luxury hotels around the world.  The latter so entices his clients that they’ll email him or SmartFlyer’s Director, Erina Pindar, insisting  they want to visit the hotel where they saw “a photo of Michael in that amazing pool.”  They’re not concerned with where it is; they just want to be where he was.”

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GLOBAL BUSINESS TRAVEL
Being Batali
January/February 2013

“To book his travel, Batali relies on Michael Holtz at SmartFlyer, but for family trips, his wife, Susi Cahn, uses Gail Rothbard at Trips Away Travel. “They both do a great job,” Batali says. “If I’m going solo, Mikey has to do everything for me.”

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“New favorite: Air New Zealand’s “Cuddle Class”: 3 coach seats converted  into a small couch  for two on some Los Angeles-to-Auckland routes.  Though the upgrade costs $500 each way, it’s still about $4000 less  than business class.”

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Erina Pindar of US high-level travel advisor SmartFlyer said: ”Japan is truly a beautiful and fascinating destination. With hundreds years of local history, as well as the treasure trove of accompanying beautiful stories, there is much to learn about the country’s heritage, modern artistry and fascinating culture.  ILTM Japan could not be better positioned or timed to allow this exclusive access to learn more and I am thrilled to be a part of it.”

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eGlobal Travel Media
US Travel Guru, Michael Holtz, on Luxperience
September 2012

John Alwyn-Jones, Producer and Presenter Global Travel Media TV meets Michael Holtz. leading US travel industry guru at Luxperience 2012.

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Session 2 is focused on “social media-is it more than just participating in Facebook and Twitter?” This session, moderated by Mario Jobbe, co-founder and chief operating officer of Brand Karma, will feature Erina Pindar, travel advisor for SmartFlyer; Kittisak Pattamasaevi of Trisara Hotel; and Wendy Perrin, director of consumer news and digital community for Condé Nast Traveler.

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There were agents that went from completely starting their career over to millions of dollars in business within a few years. Even better, I met fabulous young advisors like Kristen Korey Pike and Kate Corey with Currie & Co. Travels, Josh Alexander with ProTravel, Erina Pindar with SmartFlyer, Laura Allen with Century Travel, and Lindsey Epperly with Columbus Travel, all of whom I wanted to spend more time with.

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“Deciding on a destination was daunting for them,” adds Atlanta based travel advisor Ansley Thomas.  ”Plus, they only had around ten days to do it all, including travel time.”

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Erina Pindar with SmartFlyer says, “PS1’s Summer Warm Ups are epic dance parties with some of the world’s best DJs in the museum’s courtyard. The parties are held every Saturday all summer long. Be sure to visit Vinegar Hill House, as well. This not-to-be-missed restaurant is in the Vinegar Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn. Located on a charming cobblestoned street north of DUMBO, the food is warm and hearty, and the space is charming and quirky.”

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She definitely deserves a trip,” said Ansley Thomas, a travel advisor in Atlanta who works with New York-based SmartFlyer.com. “She might decide to take that Disneyland trip with her grandchildren after all,” said Thomas, “but after that I’d suggest an around-the-world trip with Crystal Cruises, a luxury line.”  Thomas also suggested a first-class around-the-world trip by plane. “I’d suggest she visit the places on her bucket list or pick a theme, maybe the Seven Wonders of the World, and design her trip around that.

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When travel magazines and trade industry publications print lists of the best and most powerful agents, many are members of Virtuoso. The agents and agencies that I routinely personally recommend to friends, including ones I use myself and have mentioned in these pieces, other than Tully, are all members of Virtuoso: Anne Scully of McCabe World Travel (VA), Leigh Sullivan of Regency Travel (TN), Chad Clark of Chad Clark Travel (AZ), Stacy Small of Elite Travel International (CA), Michael Holtz of Smartflyer (NY), and the largest of these powerhouse boutique firms, Valerie Wilson Travel are all excellent.

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I contacted my friend and travel advisor, Erina Pindar of SmartFlyer in New York, to get her opinion. SmartFlyer works with clients around the world to book travel, including hotels and unique experiences, and has had clients who have used TripAdvisor in the past. She wasn’t surprised at all by the investigations.

“It’s an open forum, which provides an opportunity for anybody to contribute reviews — including the people financially invested in the product,” said Pindar.

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Before heading off to her next destination, savvy jet-setter and luxury travel expert Erina Pindar gives us the low-down on the best gadgets for travelers the world over. Covering the globe for luxury travel agency SmartFlyer, Erina relies on her trusty gadgets to never miss a beat.  Erina is also a passionate foodie and the co-founder of Twitter’s #LuxChat

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Her trips often require extensive knowledge of destinations as well as knowing properties worldwide intimately,” says Michael Holtz, CEO and owner of SmartFlyer. “She came on board to rebrand the company and gave us a look that clearly communicates our business philosophy and style. Her industry contacts are impressive; she was able to clear all rooms that were requested by our client days before the 2010 Fashion Week in New York City, London and Paris. Erina also handles our marketing/social media efforts and nurtures relationships with industry vendors. Staying up to date is important and she certainly has her fingers on the pulse of the industry.”

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Unless you’re a down-and-out pop star like Britney Spears (a previous guest) or one of Mel’s brood of seven children, you can’t get a key to the movie star’s ranch. But fear not: A stone’s throw away on the North Pacific Coast, there’s the tropical sanctuary of Hacienda Cabo Velas. It comes complete with sandy beaches, a ranch and a full-time staff catering to you and your lover (the property is only rented to one party at a time). “No one will find you there,” says Michael Holtz of the travel agency Smart Flyer.

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Michael Holtz, a real estate investor and the owner of a luxury travel company called the Smart Flyer, closed on a sprawling three-bedroom on the ninth floor (2,526 square feet, including a dining room and master bedroom with a floor-to-ceiling bay window) on Dec. 11 for about $4.8 million. Three days later, he had it back on the market for $8.5 million, or more than $3,300 a square foot, according to his broker, Jon Capobianco of the Corcoran Group.

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St. Barth’s for New Year’s? Amalfi in July? Agents can call in favors to get you in — with better rates and upgrades. Michael Holtz of The Smart Flyer (the agent we have on speed-dial, 212-268-9088) gets clients into members-only clubs and restaurants because he’s in with the right concierges.

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