Brooklyn's Progress
June/July 2007

BY JILL SHEEHY

We’re all guilty of searching the Internet for the cheapest flight, booking a hotel because it is cheaper than the one across the street, and going for the economy car rental. Because, really, it’s a great deal.

Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Member Kwesi Joseph is out to change that attitude.

Mr. Joseph is the president of All For You Travel, a boutique travel agency that specializes in both premium and luxury resorts, as well as cruises and escorted tours.

And while tying to change people’s instincts to save money is easier said than done, he does have a convincing argument.

“I’m trying to educate my clients about the true cost of travel,” he said. “You’re better off using an all-inclusive resort. It costs more up front, but people need to realize that most resorts make their money once you get there.”

He is talking, of course, about the drinks, the room service, the spa treatments, the excursions, and all the little extras that pad your credit card bill while you are enjoying a bargain-basement price for the room.

“I want to show my clients that there is a better way to travel,” said Mr. Joseph.

Driving Force
It was just last year that Mr. Joseph, after teaching science in New York City public high schools for six years, decided to make his part-time gig as a travel agent his full-time passion.

He was drawn to the travel industry after noticing the deceptive nature of most travel agencies and vacations, especially towards minorities, which Mr. Joseph wanted to change.

“I wanted to learn the business from the inside,” he said. “I didn’t appreciate that the marketing towards the minority community was always entry-level vacations.”
 
He started researching the business and found that cheaper doesn’t necessarily always mean better. He found that luxury resort vacations and cruises while more costly, will always be a better value in the end.

He works with award-winning resorts and cruising companies to ensure that your precious time is not wasted. This means getting your top-shelf liquor, entertainment, and the best quality food included in your package, so there is no charging anything once you get there. It makes, said Mr. Joseph, for a much better experience. After all, his goal is to get you to do something you want to repeat.

Cruises are another trap for vacationers, Mr. Joseph warns. While the fares on lower-end lines may seem like a discount, he cautions that an extra $30 to $50 a day mean be the difference between night and day.

Mr. Joseph is always keeping an eye out for the next hot vacation spot, and he hates to send his clients to over-traveled, touristy locales. 

As far as the Caribbean goes, there are plenty of undiscovered gems. Mr. Joseph recommends Martinique, because of its French flair. It’s not highly-traveled and “the cuisine is ridiculous,” he added.

He also has his eye on South East Asia, and other far-flung locales like Tahiti and Fiji. “Anywhere that they don’t speak English, you want to go,” he said. “Those are going to be the more interesting places.”

Getting The Word Out
After joining the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce last year, Mr. Joseph is looking forward to making the most of his membership. He has already hit one of the Business After Hours events and looks forward to utilizing the Chamber’s marketing and networking contacts. He also enjoys learning more about the marketing side of travel, which is what drew him in the first place. He also aims to learn more about untapped resources in travel market research, and eventually plans to study market research.