Experts in Group Event Planning
Specializing in Interactive Group Travel
What Do We Do?
Paradise Travel is a travel management company that specializes in group travel events.
We embrace the idea that 'It's not just the destination...it's the journey'.
Our passion is group travel and we love organizing every aspect of an interactive
group event, including lodging, entertainment, dining, transportation, promotion and
all the other components that contribute to creating memories that will last a lifetime.
We've handled groups ranging from twenty-five guests to over nine hundred.
We're based in Branson, MO and excel in organizing unique, specialty group
events in this popular tourist destination, from an 'insider's point of view'.
We also work with churches, organizations, businesses, corporations, senior centers
and retirement communities, meeting their group travel needs by offering
a large variety of group tour options in the U.S. and abroad.
Meet Our Team
Gregg Gray, originally from Chicago, has made his home in Branson, MO for the last 29 years. His background is music and he toured the country; worked in the recording studio as a keyboardist, producer & arranger; and has been actively involved with a number of well-known artists, including the Osmonds, Toby Keith, John Davidson, Pam Tillis,
Bobby Vinton, Jim Stafford, Collin Raye and a host of others. To learn more about
Gregg's background in music CLICK HERE
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In 2007, Gregg started booking individual travel for friends and family, so he could enjoy some of the benefits available to travel professionals. Because of his love for travel, experience with budgeting and coordinating projects in the recording studio and training he received in the travel industry, he was asked by some friends in the music business to start organizing fan appreciation events. His venue of choice are cruise ships. Since 2010,
Gregg has organized more than 40 cruise events for a variety of clients.
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However, living in a tourist town like Branson, he expanded his staff and the services he offers to include tour packages for groups and organizations coming to Branson. He also provides a variety of travel options for groups in the area to destination all over the world. We have been blessed to receive several travel industry awards for sales volume and customer service, as well as being featured in travel agency publications.
Whit Privette was born in South Carolina and raised in Oklahoma. He spent most of his life actively involved in the music business, both as a musician and on the business side of the industry. He spent years in Branson, MO and Myrtle Beach, SC working with well-known artists and shows including Tony Orlando, Rich Little, the Osmond Brothers, Johnny Lee, Legends in Concert and many more.
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In 2007, Whit moved to New Hampshire where he managed a nine hundred seat performing arts theatre in Manchester. He was responsible for booking national acts, as well as managing the theatre facilities. In 2017, Whit moved back to Branson as marketing director for the Andy Williams Performing Arts Center. After several months, he accepted an offer to partner with the Paradise Travel team, where he continues to do an outstanding job managing group events and sharing in customer service responsibilities. Whit's real distinctive is that he loves people and realizes what makes our company stand out is our experience, attention to detail and great customer service.
Laura Curphey is an invaluable team member with Paradise Travel.
She's our Financial and Accounts Manager, with over 40 years experience in accounting. Laura earned a degree in Business Administration and Finance. Her background includes working for a commercial construction company that builds hospitals and municipal buildings. She created spreadsheets tracking every phase of construction; sub-contractors, payroll and supplies, that would make your head hurt. Her attention to detail is amazing. Laura also handles insurance quotes and assists in customer service for our company.
In addition, Laura is an experienced travel agent and handles personal and leisure travel for our company. Having grown up in Florida, she's a veteran cruiser and is very familiar with all the major attractions in the Sunshine State. She also keeps up-to-date on travel blogs, travel vendor FB posts/ message boards and other travel industry information that helps Paradise Travel stay educated on current trends in Group Travel.
Marlene Brice is an incredible asset to Paradise Travel. She successfully
completed, graduated and is a member in good standing with the International
Tour Management Institute. She is qualified for local guiding, receptive and
incentive travel, meeting and event planning, domestic and international tour directing including international travel by motor coach, air, cruise and rail.
What makes her so valuable to our company is her years of practical experience. Marlene owned and operated a KOA, destination campground in Arizona, where she actively scheduled and setup daily recreational activities for her guests.
Marlene is in demand as a Tour Director/ Manager. She has years of experience directing educational travel adventures with Road Scholar. Marlene is currently
managing tours for a variety of clients, including Shoreline Tours & Travel,
who specialize in travel fulfillment for Senior Centers across the country.
In addition, Marlene directs student performance group travel for Bob Rogers Travel.
Prior to becoming a tour director, Marlene was a very successful business woman
in the Health and Wellness Industry. She managed literally thousands of people worldwide and has personally visited over 40 countries. Marlene setup and
directed elaborate business conferences in world-class hotels and cruises ships.
Carol Pugh is not only a valued team member with Paradise Travel, but is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. Carol lives in the Austin, TX area and helps us in many ways with our larger group events. She's done everything from coordinate motor coach transportation for our large Osmond Fan Appreciation get-together in Branson, MO, to assisting with hundreds of guests on our celebrity fan appreciation cruises. Her husband Tom is an executive with a major hotel chain and she has spent most of her adult career in the banking and hospitality industries.
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Her love of travel has given her some amazing experiences from dog sledding on a glacier in Alaska, to visiting the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City, to cruising the Mediterranean. She loves meeting new people and seeing new places. Because of her travel experience, it was only natural to have her lead our group travel efforts in central Texas. They say 'the way to a man's heart is through his stomach'. The way to Carol's heart is a pint of Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice cream!