Three highly respected industry travel executives – Internova Travel Group Founder and Chairman Michael Batt, Riviera Travel Executive Vice President of Business Development Marilyn Conroy and Carnival Cruise Line Vice President of North American Field Sales Mike Julius – were recognized with the 2025 Travvy Hall of Fame Award at the event’s gala ceremony at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention Center on Nov. 6.
It’s easy to see what travel advisors chose as the trio of executives for the Travel Hall of Fame Awards: All three have long served as stalwart advocates for the agency community.
“The real influencers in travel, the travel advisors, have made their voices known, and we are beyond excited to celebrate the best of the best at the 2025 Travvy Awards,” said Eric Bowman, editor-in-chief of TravelPulse.
“The winners consistently deliver magical moments, exceeding expectations in helping curate lifelong memories for travelers around the world,” he added.
Michael Batt, Internova Travel Group
Internova Travel Group Chief Information Officer Jeremy Van Kuyk introduced Batt, noting that the executive is known for his “passion for the industry and his ability to lead with courage.”
When Batt joined Carlson Companies in 1996, he “built something extraordinary, turning a collection of agencies into a powerhouse that more than doubled in size,” Van Kuyk said.
Michael Batt speaks on stage at the 2025 Travvy Awards. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group)
In January 2008, Batt spearheaded a Carlson Leisure Group management buyout, “and went on to build some of the most celebrated businesses in the industry, “ he said.
In 2008, Batt led a buyout of Carlson Leisure Group, which launched the company now known as Internova Travel Group. Its units include, but are not limited to, Global Travel Collection, Nexion Travel Group and Travel Leaders Network.
“It’s been an incredible journey,” Batt said when he took to the stage, noting that his success would not have been possible without the assistance of the long-term team roster of executives who played pivotal roles in building the business. “I will never forget these people, and I wouldn’t be here without them.”
Internova Travel Group now comprises upward of 3,000 employees, 6,000 locations and more than 100,000 travel advisors around the globe.
Prior to joining Carlson, Batt served as executive vice president of sales and marketing at Alamo-Rent-A-Car, and served as marketing director and executive board member of British Airways.
His career, however, did not begin in the travel industry. For 12 years, Batt worked in a variety of sales and brand management positions for M&M Mars in the UK, Spain, Africa and the Middle East.
Marilyn Conroy, Riviera Travel
Conroy was introduced by her husband, Mark Conroy, a well-known figure in the ultra-luxury market, having served as president of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, along with executive roles at several other luxury lines.
Conroy noted that his wife blazed the trail for women in the travel industry, serving as the first female vice president at Cunard Line in the late 1970s. As vice president of sales, she oversaw the company’s entire sales division.
Back then, the cruise segment was “a quintessentially male-dominated” industry, Conroy said, noting that women were not considered for executive positions.
Marilyn Conroy speaks at the 2025 Travvy Awards in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group)
In addition to serving as vice president of sales at Cunard, Conroy worked for Silversea Cruises as senior vice president of sales and marketing, and Crystal Cruises as vice president of sales.
“Now, she is turning Riviera Travel into a major player in America,” Conroy said, before introducing his wife to the stage as his "favorite person in the world".
Like her husband, Conroy noted that the travel industry has come a long way since the 1970s. “Women were not really given jobs in middle-level executive positions or above that,” she said.
Addressing the advisors in the audience, Conroy said: “Over the years, I’ve gotten to know so many of you, not just professionally but personally, because this is a personal business.”
The British-born executive joined Riviera River Cruises, which is now known as Riviera Travel, in December 2019 as vice president of sales and marketing for North America.
She was promoted to executive vice president of business development in March 2025, where she is spearheading Riviera Travel’s expansion in the U.S. and Canada.
Mike Julius, Carnival Cruise Line
“For over 36 years, Mike has been a dedicated member of the Carnival Cruise Line team with a very deep-rooted commitment to travel by the community,” said Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy, who introduced Julius, who retired in September 2025.
“He started out as a travel advisor himself, but his passion for travel quickly led him to Carnival. His enthusiasm and leadership have been instrumental in shaping the success of hundreds of our team members and colleagues,” she said.
“Throughout his career, Mike has displayed a willingness to always listen, and the ability to develop and build meaningful, lasting relationships.”
Mike Julius is welcomed into the Travel Hall of Fame at the 2025 Travvy Awards. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group)
Duffy added, "Mike has consistently been an advocate for the travel advisor community, focusing on developing authentic partnerships, resulting in extraordinary contributions to the industry throughout his career.”
After thanking his Carnival colleagues and the travel advisors in the audience – and noting that his entire career was in the travel industry – Julius offered some advice to agents.
“Close that laptop, put the phone down, stop scrolling, lift your head up and look at your story,” he said. “Be part of it and revel in your relationships.”
Like his fellow Travel Hall of Fame awardees, Julius has long been an ardent supporter of the travel advisor community.
In his role as vice president of North American field sales, Julius played a crucial role in creating a highly effective sales team, which greatly expedited Carnival’s growth.
Julius began his Carnival career as business development manager for the northern Midwest region and quickly rose through ranks with positions such as director of sales for the central region, vice president of sales for the central U.S. and managing director of U.S. trade sales.
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