Meet Rhonda Carges

Executive Vice President of Operations

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.

Rhonda Carges

"Communication and sales go hand-in-hand. It's about listening."

Posts from Rhonda

Outdoor Recreation Trends

By Rhonda | May 16, 2023

Outdoor recreation trends are constantly evolving. Before 2020, the issue of overtourism was prominent as major attractions were being crowded…

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Increase Foot Traffic with Motorcoach Business – 11 Ways to Become Group Ready

By Rhonda | December 12, 2022

Working in the travel and tourism industry allows us to get to know organizations that rely on visitors to their…

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TikTok for Tourism Marketing

TikTok for Tourism Marketing

By Rhonda | June 7, 2022

Just as we all were getting used to using Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter as marketing tools, we now have to…

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4 Tips for a Successful Familiarization Tour

4 Tips for a Successful FAM Tour

By Rhonda | October 30, 2021

In the wonderful and exciting world of tourism marketing, various tactics are used to market a destination. One of these…

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4 Common Types of Group Tours

4 Common Types of Group Tours

By Rhonda | October 6, 2021

When you’re driving down the highway and see a big motorcoach cruising along, do you ever wonder who’s in there? …

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Tourism Marketing: A Collaborative Approach

Tourism Marketing: A Collaborative Approach

By Rhonda | September 8, 2021

What goes into making a location attractive as a tourist destination? Geographic locations are inviting to visitors for a multitude…

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