ABC Destinations is a travel company with a mission to provide a fulfilling vacation experience to the world traveler at prices that offer considerable value.

By leveraging our buying power with suppliers, ABC Destinations can negotiate significant savings while providing an authentic and unique travel experience. We then pass those savings on to our customers so that they can be confident that they will enjoy a rewarding vacation at a compelling value.

ABC Destinations is the sister company of Club ABC Tours which has been providing outstanding vacation values to destinations around the world since 1966. Our long-standing experience in the travel industry allows our customers to benefit from our 40 year knowledge base and expertise in planning and designing travel packages.

Club ABC History

In the early 1960’s a woman by the name of Nina Paris originally from Istanbul, wanted to begin production of haute couture dresses for the American market in New York City. She was looking for an investor and met New Jersey businessman Louis Kronberg. At the time, Mr. Kronberg was the President of the New Jersey wine and liquor unions.

Nina and Louis became business partners as well as husband and wife. They built their high-end fashion business with many repeated trips to Paris. After a few visits they became friendly with the General Manager of the hotel, which was then The Grand Hotel of Paris. He encouraged them to bring other Americans with them. In the mid 1960’s only about 1.5 million Americans visited Paris a year. Mr. Kronberg dealt with so many people in the liquor and wine business and truly knew how to motivate people. He would have wine tastings and invite people to discuss travel opportunities. He charged $5 and called the organization the Alcohol Beverage Council, which started Club ABC Tours. They were an affinity group and could receive a discount from the regulated airlines at the time for a reduced fare. The club members really enjoyed receiving these great deals on vacation packages.

The first trip Club ABC Tours operated was to Paris and cost $250 per person with 25 travelers. The next trip they put together costs about the same with about 40 travelers. The trips grew with every departure and it was always by word of mouth. Mr. Kronberg would craft the vacation tours and since Nina spoke seven languages she was helpful in negotiations of contracts. He sold the destinations he loved as long as it was offering great vacations values. His core vision for Club ABC Tours was to give the opportunity for people to experience the world. This was done by creating vacation packages that gave consumers considerable value. This included being extremely selective in the particular hotels included in the travel packages.

Mr. Kronberg had great insight within the travel business and was instrumental in bringing visitors to Naples Italy after a devastating earthquake in 1980. He also received an award from the city of Strasa Italy in recognition of bringing tourism to the area.

Club ABC Tours provides vacations to 250 cities on six continents. The company is owned and operated by Robert and Tom Paris, the sons of Nina and step-sons of Louis Kronberg.

ABC Destinations was started approximately six years ago as a result of members asking us for customized group itineraries for affinity group and business organizations.

ABC Destinations and Club ABC Tours employ about 50 dedicated travel professionals. The corporate headquarters is in Bloomfield New Jersey and additional offices in Paris, Rome and Surrey, UK.

ABC Destinations Bios:

Carl Montecelli
Carl Montecelli, a true veteran of the travel industry has spent over 25 years in various capacities of travel and tourism.  Carl solidified his career objectives when he joined British Airways 1985 as a reservations agent.  Within a few years, he graduated from the British Airways Management Training Program.  This program led Carl to using his talents in various sales and customer service positions over the next 13 years.  He ended his tenure with British Airways as Manager Customer Services, Philadelphia. In 2000, he joined Kuoni, a Destination Management Company and tour operator headquartered in Switzerland, as Director of Sales for the Northeast Region USA and Canada.  His success at Kuoni lead him to ABC Destinations as Managing Director in 2005.  He attended Rutgers University and has a B.A. from Brooklyn College.
 
Funda Askin
Funda Askin has been working for ABC Destinations as a Group Sales Executive since 2008. Funda has 18 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. Previously, she worked as the Sales and Marketing Director for Alp Travel Inc and Ross Brown Entertainment & Production in New Jersey and South Carolina, respectively. Funda is originally from Istanbul and received her Bachelor Degree from Istanbul University in Business Management.  While living in Turkey, she managed numerous successful incentives, meetings and conferences as Deputy Sales Manager for both MEP Destinations Management and IREM Tour Inc. in Istanbul. Her myriad of experiences and responsibilities has contributed to her exceptional sales, organizational and operational skills. She enjoys using her creativity in developing specialized travel experiences for her clients.

Ian Scott
Ian Scott, Vice President of Business Development for ABC Destinations has been a world traveler since an early age.  Ian traveled all over Europe on family vacations  Born in England and graduate of Doncaster College as an electrical engineer, Ian’s globetrotting led him to Australia where he began a career in the travel industry with Hyatt Hotels.  In 1996, he was hired by Arriva World Tours as the Overseas Operations and eventually became Vice President of Sales.  He also worked for Cuba Travel Services and joined ABC Destinations in 2008.  Ian has worked in every facet of the travel industry; reservations, operations, product planning, overseas operations, sales, and business development as well as lived in many different cities across the world.  In his spare time Ian coaches a local soccer team and holds his U.S Soccer Federation National D license.

Ian says “The world holds a true education and experiences such as swimming on the barrier reef, living with remote mountain tribes in Thailand, mountain biking down the slopes of Mammoth Mountain (California), seeing flying fish take flight in phosphorescent waters of the Philippines, meeting the Dali Lama, and traveling through India via steam train, helped shape my life”. 

Merritt Howerton
Merritt Howerton has joined ABC Destinations as Vice President of Business Development.  Merritt brings with her 20 years of experience in the leisure travel and tourism industry.  Most recently Merritt was the Director of Sales at TCS Expeditions, which offered Around the World by Private Jet programs to remote locations for affluent travelers.  Prior to joining TCS Expeditions, Merritt was Regional Director of Sales at Lindblad Expeditions, who offers natural history themed ship and land programs.  Merritt also has experience as an Event Manager as well as Membership Director for the Indianapolis Athletic Club.  Her passion for travel all began when she took her first job after college graduation with Ambassadair Travel Club and American Trans Air.  She was a Tour Director for the charter club and has since traveled to all seven continents.  Merritt received her B.A from University of Louisville in Political Science. 

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