Michael F Stone, CTIE, CPCU

Education: BS Hotel and Hospitality Management, Cornell University

Degrees: CTIE (Certified Travel Industry Executive), The Travel Institute; CPCU (Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter), The Institutes, Risk and Insurance Knowledge Group

Travel Expert Areas: Tour Operating, Tour Operations, Travel Agencies, Duty of Care, Standard of Care, SOPs,  Travel Industry Professional Standard of Conduct, Travel Contracts, Supplier Contracting,  Hotel Management, Hospitality Management, Airline Distribution, Cruise Line, OTA, Online Travel Agency, Host Agency, Independent Contractor, IC Agreement, Consortia, Travel Contract Breach, Commercial Travel Disputes, Travel Fraud, Fiduciary Duty, Consumer Disclosures, Travel Seller Compliance, Seller of Travel, Merchant of Record, Booking & Fulfillment Disputes, GDS (Global Distribution System), Travel Technology, Travel Insurance, Travel Invoices, Forensic Travel Analysis

Years in Practice: 30

Background Information: Travel Expert with extensive hands-on operating experience in travel agency, tour operating, cruise, transportation, tourism, and hospitality operations.

Graduate of Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel and Hospitality Management.

Is a Certified Travel Industry Executive (CTIE) and insurance industry Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU).

Selected travel industry experience includes:

• Successful ownership and operation of a large multi-location travel and cruise agency business;
• CEO and President of one of the largest tour operating businesses in the US;
• Successfully created a major new tour operating business for an international tour operating company;
• Hotel sales, management and marketing experience with several major hotel brands
• Successfully founded and led two travel industry software development and technology companies focused on travel management, tour operating, travel agency management, hotel operations and reservations and online booking.

Currently President, Travel Solutions at Blender Solutions focused on the use of data and technology to improve customer engagement and the management, marketing and selling of travel.

In addition to his position at Blender Solutions, Stone continues to provide travel management and technology consulting to travel agencies, tour operators, hospitality companies, travel destinations, online travel companies; and a variety of other travel and tourism related businesses.