When an agent has actually LIVED in a destination, you know they are going to give you EXPERIENCES and MEMORIES you will have for a lifetime. Manya started her passion for travel as a child. Manya's family regularly traveled to Germany and from there, traveled Europe for periods of up to 6 weeks in the winter. Involved with the family bakeries and restaurants from a young age, Manya moved to Switzerland immediately after High School to attend Hotel Management School in Crans-Montana. After Service and Cooking training in Zurich, Cuxhaven, Germany and a Management Trainee position at the Palace Hotel in St Moritz, Manya started a position with the Five Star Kempinski Hotel in Toronto.
After 2 years with Kempinski, Manya moved to a Canadian joint venture hotel in Moscow, Russia. What a time to be in Russia! Manya was the Manager on duty at the hotel on the weekend that there was an attempted coup and had to coordinate the safety of clients leaving the country and those remaining in the country. Manya was also responsible for the stays of the pilots and crew of Air Force One when President Clinton made his visit to Russia.
After Russia, Manya moved to New York and started with Travel Dynamics and Classical Cruises. As director of Customer Services, she served the educational Alumni based travel for Universities such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford and Bryn Mawr. Manya also handled VIP Alumni such as Astronaut and Senator John Glenn and other members of Various Governments. The hotel industry pulled her back and she became the Front Office Manager of Novotel Times Square, the flagship hotel of Accor North America. Manya was involved in the planning of the Sofitel Philadelphia and Sofitel NYC.
Manya moved back to Saskatoon in 2001 with her husband and together they managed Traeger's Bakery and Restaurant until 2004.
Since becoming a Travel Advisor, Manya has used her experience in Hotel Management to become a Cruise and Luxury Specialist. Her European travel experience has given her clients special experiences. Whether it is a private pick up from her good friend Luca in Rome or a secret gem of a hotel she has found in Amsterdam, experience matters!
Direct Travel is proud to be among the 1% of the most elite travel agencies in North America. As members of the world’s most premier travel organizations, including Virtuoso, we are able to provide our clients with exclusive benefits and complimentary amenities. With an average of 20 years of experience, our advisors have traveled the world over to discover the perfect destinations and personalized experiences for every client.
Our advisors are specialists for all regions of the world, and can guide you to the best in hotels, tour guides, activities and dining venues in every city and every country. From family vacations to wellness retreats, we have advisors who specialize in all specific types of travel. We also work with a variety of companies that offer specific activities for travelers with an active lifestyle seeking a personalized adventure.
There is a cruise for every type of traveler- river cruising for a slower pace, ocean cruising for waking up in a new city each day without unpacking more than once, and even expedition cruising for exploring the best nature has to offer. With an array of cruise choices and itinerary options around the world, we have the specialists who have been onboard each ship and sailed each itinerary in order to provide our clients with the best cruise to suit their travel style. We also offer extra special amenities like additional onboard credits and private shore excursions exclusive to our clients.
As members of Virtuoso and several elite luxury hotel programs we are partnered with the best of the best hotels, villas, resorts, boutique properties, and more— many of which we have first-hand experience. Our handpicked selections deliver exclusive savings and amenities—like complimentary breakfast or a welcome gift upon arriving to your suite—thanks to our worldwide and personal connections with numerous properties.