Jim Bendt – President

The places I’ve visited:

Alaska, Hawaii (Kauai, Oahu, Lanai, Molokai, Maui, Big Island), Egypt, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Netherlands, Iceland, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, China, Canada, St. Johns, Mexico, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico

The year I started working in the business:

1992

The year I joined Travel Beyond:

2008

My favorite travel destinations:

Hawaii – Each island offers a completely different experience from volcanoes to rainforests to beaches to whales. You have all the comforts of vacationing in the US. And the food, people and culture are amazing.

New Zealand – The South Island is one of the most beautiful places on the planet – Rocky Mountains meet the ocean.

Egypt – The historical perspective you gain by visiting Egypt is life changing.

My most memorable travel moment:

On a trip to Alaska, my wife Linda and I had the opportunity to visit Brooks Falls in Alaska’s Katmai National Park. This is a famous site where grizzly bears fish for Salmon. After a 30 minute bear safety program we were escorted to a viewing platform next to the falls. We were captivated by the fishing techniques these huge bears used to catch salmon in their mid-air flight over the falls.

My most embarrassing travel moment:

On a trip to Costa Rica, I decided to exchange some money at a local bank. It seemed like a great opportunity to test out my high school Spanish skills. I walked up to the window and proudly proclaimed “I’d like some cojones, por favor.” For some reason, my request was greeted with uncontrollable laughter. I was dumbfounded until my brother-in-law politely pointed out “colones” would have been a more appropriate choice of words.