Meet Mike Putman
With nearly four decades of pioneering leadership in the travel and technology sectors, Mike Putman is a visionary entrepreneur and an architect of the modern digital travel landscape. As the Founder and CEO of Custom Travel Solutions, he leads the world’s premier white-label travel club builder, helping global brands transform customer loyalty from transactional points into immersive, experience-driven ecosystems. Under his guidance, the company has expanded its reach to over 3.3 million properties across 200 countries, offering hyper-localized solutions in 60+ languages.
Mike’s career is defined by a series of "firsts." In 1984, he founded Putman Travel, becoming one of the largest private agencies in the Southeast. In 1995, he launched 11th Hour Vacations, one of the internet’s earliest online travel companies. His strategic acumen further scaled enterprises like OneTravel.com and Rovia LLC, the latter of which earned a World Travel Award for Leading Online Travel Agency. A sought-after industry expert and advisor to travel startups, Mike is a frequent voice at global forums like Phocuswright, where he shares insights on AI integration, e-commerce, and the evolving subscription economy. He remains dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in travel distribution and technology.
Meet James Ferrara
James R. Ferrara is CEO of InteleTravel, an integrated travel distribution organization built on InteleTravel, the largest host agency (founded 1991, 140,000 independent travel advisors across 10+ countries, $1.5 billion in annual travel sales), and now also comprised of businesstravel.com the one-stop travel solution for small businesses, the 50 year corporate travel alliance Hickory Global Partners, meeting planning and events leader MGME, Major Travel, a top exotics and luxury tour operator, and Tickitto, a live sporting event and concert ticketing platform.
James executes a forward-looking vision of geographic expansion and growth strategies to innovate new services and value for the InteleTravel companies and traveling customers. He leads a talented team responsible for all areas of travel operations, technology, travel product development, travel partner relationships, and the support, education, and nurturing of travel advisors and employees. He serves on advisory boards for leading travel organizations, including CLIA, ASTA, Carnival Cruise Line and more.
James is most proud that his organization has helped more people own their own businesses, and educated more advisors (over 500,000), than any other travel industry group.
Unlocking the Industry’s Best-Kept Secrets
We don't just read travel brochures; we interview the people who write them to get the real story. By leveraging our network of CEOs, VPs, and industry titans, we bring you high-level conversations that usually happen behind closed doors. We cut through the marketing fluff to deliver raw, actionable intelligence on everything from the future of cruising to the reality of airline pricing algorithms. Whether we are interviewing the head of a major hotel chain or a cruise line executive, our goal is to ensure you are always the smartest traveler in the room.
Mastering the Art of Smart Travel
Traveling like an insider means understanding the mechanics of the system to get maximum luxury for minimum spend. We dive deep into the complex world of points, miles, and status matching to help you fly business class for the price of coach. From debating the ethics of "skiplagging" to revealing how to spot a mistake fare before it disappears, we provide the toolkit you need to beat the airlines at their own game. Stop paying retail prices for wholesale experiences and start stretching your travel budget further than you ever thought possible.
Authentic Experiences Beyond the Guidebook
We believe the best travel stories happen when you step away from the crowded monuments and embrace the unexpected. Our philosophy is simple: ditch the pre-packaged tours to find the local haunts, hidden culinary gems, and genuine cultural connections that truly define a destination. From navigating the chaotic streets of Tokyo to finding a quiet, family-run vineyard in Southern France, we guide you on how to immerse yourself fully in a new culture. It’s time to stop looking at the world through a bus window and start experiencing it on your own terms.
