SmartFlyer, a New York-based full-service luxury travel agency with a global footprint, announced the appointment of Erina Pindar as chief operating officer and managing partner.
With over 15 years of experience in the luxury travel space, the majority of which was spent building the SmartFlyer brand, Pindar will be looking after the next phase of the agency’s growth, including the development of SmartFlyer’s innovative technology platforms upon which more than 200 SmartFlyer travel advisors based across the United States, Europe, and Australia operate, a press release said. She will continue to oversee the agency’s operations, brand and communications, independent contractor network, and strategic partnerships.
“We saw an opportunity to build a company — backed by a powerful brand — that appealed to fresh talent with a knack for creating exceptional client experiences from start to finish,” Michael Holtz, SmartFlyer founder and CEO, said in the release. “Erina has played a critical role in our agency’s growth both from a brand-building standpoint and fostering the development of our thriving affiliate community. Today, the strength of SmartFlyer’s platform that Erina has championed allows our agency to collectively generate over $500 million in annual revenue. After nearly 33 years, 2022 will mark our most profitable year ever.”
Pindar was the first SmartFlyer agent to be named to the Travel Agent Magazine’s 30Under30 list and has since been honored by Forbes as one of the “Asian Americans Who Are Shaping the Travel Industry.” She is frequently quoted as a travel expert in CNN Travel, Vogue, The New York Times, and Forbes. Pindar sits on the Travel + Leisure A-List Travel Advisory Board, ACCOR Travel Agent Advisory Board, IHG Global Sales Advisory Panel, and established EQTR, SmartFlyer’s nonprofit program providing scholarship and internship opportunities to develop future BIPOC travel leaders and entrepreneurs.
In an effort to drive a better booking experience for all advisors, as well as a frictionless user journey for our mutual and discerning clients, Pindar acts as the Chair of Sion’s advisory board and sits on the board of directors for Lucia, two innovative technology companies revolutionizing the travel agency space. In the months ahead, she will lead SmartFlyer’s CRM launch in tandem with the rebuild of “smartienet,” SmartFlyer’s internal partner database.
