IRT’s Eleanor Hardy Named Condé Nast Traveler ‘Top Travel Specialist’
The Society of International Railway Travelers® (IRT) is thrilled to announce that IRT President Eleanor Flagler Hardy has been named a 2020 World’s Top Travel Specialist by Condé Nast Traveler magazine (CNT).
“I am speechless,” Eleanor told me, uncharacteristically. “I don’t know what to say.”
OK, I’ll say it (even as I admit I am her husband):
Eleanor has devoted her professional life to the welfare and happiness of her worldwide list of clients, many of whom call her a friend. This official and prestigious recognition is highly deserved.
Eleanor began her professional life as a newspaper reporter – the kind who won’t take “no” for an answer.
She began working for IRT as soon as Rachel, our second daughter and now IRT Vice President, Sales & Marketing, started second grade.
While I published our IRT magazine, Eleanor took charge of our new travel planning department.
She never looked back.
Within several years, we joined the Virtuoso luxury travel consortium, at Eleanor’s urging. This immediately gave IRT access to the world’s top travel partners.
Meanwhile, she logged millions of miles, on every continent except Antarctica, gaining a deep knowledge of the world’s top luxury trains.
Eleanor’s luxury train “information bank,” coupled with her naturally outgoing personality, are gold for IRT and our clients.
Want the lowdown on sleeping car berths on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Rovos Rail or the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express?
Need info on where to stay in Moscow, Madrid or Lima?
Want the best guide ever in Berlin, Vancouver or Vienna?
Eleanor’s your go-to travel guru.
But should people really be thinking about their future travel, given the current world health crisis?
“Ironically, there isn’t a better time,” Eleanor says.
What places do you want to visit? Which of our World’s Top 25 Trains do you want to ride — or ride again? She says now is the time to be thinking about this for 2021 and 2022.
“Now’s the time to keep dreaming — and to start making those plans,” Eleanor says. “Because I guarantee you, when this crisis ends — and it will — there will be a surge like you wouldn’t believe.”
“Get at the front of the line,” advises this Condé Nast Traveler 2020 Top Travel Specialist. “Let’s start planning now. We will be here when you are ready.”
For a complimentary, 15-minute appointment with Eleanor, call (800) 478-4881 (+1 502-897-1725 if outside the US/Canada), or email tourdesk@irtsociety.com.
