Meet Rhonda Carges
Vice President & Senior Consultant
The backstory
Career paths are funny things. Right out of college, Rhonda got a job as a secretary with a large law firm. But she wasn't destined to make the legal field her career -- only the first half of it. Fortunately, the firm invested in their staff with generous training in communications, human resources, and sales. Rhonda took advantage of all of it and worked her way up to management, overseeing 100 secretaries. But law firms are demanding of time, and ultimately Rhonda left in search of flexibility. She found it with friend and business partner, Nicole Mahoney.
Professional path
Today Rhonda brings more than 20 years of sales and new business development to the table. She's a master at creating relationships and has a deep understanding of sales strategies, creating win-win opportunities for BTI's tourism clients. She serves on ABA's Marketplace Education Committee, I Love NY's China-Ready Committee and Canadian Roadshow Committee, the New York State Tourism Industry Association's Empire State Tourism Conference Scholarship Committee and is a co-chair of the Professional Women of the Finger Lakes' Women of Distinction Awards Committee. Rhonda is 2005 past chairperson of the Visitor Industry Council for Visit Rochester. Rhonda and her staff are able to act as a much-needed sales arm for Convention and Visitors Bureaus (CVBs), providing management, tracking and reporting, and of course-- closing those sales successfully.
With her easy-going personality and high attention to detail, Rhonda is able to put her management skills to work as BTI's HR person, and Office and Operations manager.
Inside the office she loves:
Her team. Working with clients and prospects. Developing relationships. Mentoring. Team building. Closing sales.
Outside the office she loves:
Her three children, Jesse, Leah & Nina. Taking walks with their dog, Daisy. Her wonderful network of friends. Her woman’s euchre group. The Finger Lakes of New York State. Reading. Volunteering her time with various community organizations including: Camp Good Days & Special Times, Professional Women of the Finger Lakes and CMAC.

"Communication and sales go hand-in-hand. It's about listening."
Posts from Rhonda
Financial Benefits of Group Travel
Tourism is an economic engine. Pre-Covid, the economic impact of tourism was at an all-time high, generating $1.9 trillion in…
Read MoreInsights from TAP Dance 2023
Travel Alliance Partners (TAP) was established in 2001 as an organization of premier North American Tour Operators who offer unique products from more…
Read MoreOutdoor Recreation Trends
Outdoor recreation trends are constantly evolving. Before 2020, the issue of overtourism was prominent as major attractions were being crowded…
Read MoreIncrease Foot Traffic with Motorcoach Business – 11 Ways to Become Group Ready
Working in the travel and tourism industry allows us to get to know organizations that rely on visitors to their…
Read More