Gordy Silverman, the senior director of industry education at Unique Vacations and a longtime advocate for travel agent education who helped develop Sandals Resorts’ Certified Sandals Specialist program, died July 24 following a brief battle with cancer. She was 64.

Silverman joined Unique Vacations in 1987 and quickly established herself as an “exuberant champion of travel agents,” according to a statement from the company. She began in the Miami office but later launched Unique Vacation’s West Coast presence.

Gary Sadler, Unique Vacations’ executive vice president of sales and industry relations, described Silverman as the “mother of all trainers in the travel industry.”

“For more than 25 years, she was a driving force in the specialist workshops, keeping the sales messaging and training fresh and relevant for travel advisors year in and year out,” he said.

Sadler credited Silverman for building the framework and the foundations for the global sales training “that the team and I proudly stand upon today,” he said.

“Gordy’s long-term dedication to the company and her knowledge of the travel industry were instrumental to our success,” he said. “She will be deeply missed.”

Advisors and industry friends are invited to contribute thoughts and memories of Silverman to a Sandals Memory jar being established by her longtime friend and colleague Maura Cecere at [email protected]

Source: Read Full Article