About Coastline :: Travel Advisors

JAY JOHNSON, President
CARLA CRITTENDEN , Group and Festival Coordinator
LEAH SMITH, Director of Sales
PATTI JENKINS, Business Development Manager
KRISTA ADKINS, Travel Consultant
BETH LEWIS, Executive Assistant
LEAH BERGNER, Travel Consultant
CAITLIN MURPHY, Travel Consultant
ANN SANTILLAN , Travel Consultant
NORMA MULLIGAN, Travel Consultant

JAY JOHNSON, President
jay@coastlinetravel.com

While working for his degree in Business Finance, Jay began working at the family owned At Your Service Travel Advisors in 1985.  When he graduated four years later, Jay decided to “stick around” a bit longer before he went off to conquer the world in a job of high finance. He realized planning vacations and incentive travel for business travelers was a fun and enjoyable profession.  And so began a long career in the travel industry.  In 1997, Jay purchased the company and changed the name to Coastline Travel Advisors.  That same year, Jay applied for and was granted membership into the elite travel organization, Virtuoso (formerly API).  Rather than focus on mass market travel packages, Jay decided the path to an enjoyable career and a healthy balance sheet, lied in the luxury travel market. 

Business has never been better and Jay has consistently ranked as one of the top producers to some of the most well known five star travel companies.  Albeit Crystal Cruises or the Four Season’s, Jay ranks as one of the top producers in the industry.

CARLA CRITTENDEN , Group and Festival Coordinator
carla@coastlinetravel.com

Carla began at At Your Service Travel Advisors in 1979, right out of college as the agency assistant bookkeeper.  From these humble beginnings, Carla has emerged as the Director of Festivals for Coastline Travel Advisors, Inc.  Carla entirely manages the annual Hawaii Invitational in Waikiki, which recently celebrated its 26th anniversary this past April.  In 1997, the Hawaii Invitational was a struggling venture that that consisted of one local high school band going to Hawaii to “compete” with other bands.  Well, it’s pretty hard to compete when you’re the only band in town.  Carla took over the reins of the Hawaii Invitational, using her incredible accounting mind, and has transformed this once dormant festival into the most exclusive, and by far the largest high school music festival in Hawaii.  This year alone, she attracted over 15 high school bands, color guard, and drill teams to the Aloha State.  Gross sales for this event well exceed $1,000,000.00 annually and has garnered the attention of major media outlets throughout the world.

It’s always a compliment when your competition begins trying to copy your success.  Over the past few years, dozens of travel companies have tried to duplicate Carla’s Hawaii Invitational model with little or no success.  While the competition flounders, the Hawaii Invitational grows.  This is a tribute to Carla and her staff of judges and assistants. 

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LEAH SMITH, Director of Sales
leah@coastlinetravel.com

Leah began her travel profession while finishing up her senior year at the University California at Irvine.  As a Political Science major, Leah was fascinated by world events and decided to enter the field of luxury travel.  A travel buff herself, Leah loves to travel the world and has gone to destinations that even seasoned travelers have yet to discover.  Leah has an incredible attention to detail and has organized trips to just about every destination imaginable.  All before celebrating her 25th birthday!

What an amazing person.  Leah was originally hired to do basic accounting at the agency.  But, we quickly realized we were wasting an incredible talent.  Once Leah began planning vacations for the rich and famous, there was no stopping her.  Safaris to Africa, adventure travel to the far reaches of South America, to arranging dinner on the Great Wall of China, Leah has done it all. Ask her for a restaurant recommendation in Vienna, she’ll rattle off a half dozen based on cuisine, ambiance, and location.  She is an amazing source of information and the word is getting out.  This year, she was the number one producer of new business through Virtuoso’s Lead Business Development program.  Competing against hundreds of seasoned agents throughout the world, Leah Smith has emerged as the number one agent for Silversea Cruises.  Not only for Silversea, but for the entire program!  This is an amazing accomplishment for anyone, especially one as young as Leah.  The sky is the limit for this rising star of luxury travel. 

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PATTI JENKINS, Business Development Manager
patti@coastlinetravel.com

Patti Jenkins is an 18-year veteran of the travel industry and has worked in every aspect of this ever-changing industry. Before coming to Coastline Travel Advisors, Patti was as an independent travel consultant, and then she managed a Uniglobe franchise in Simi Valley California. In 2000, Patti negotiated the sale of this Uniglobe franchise to Carlson Wagonlit Travel in Camarillo California.  At Carlson Wagonlit, her main focus was travel business development.  It soon became clear to her that group business travel was the future of the travel industry.  Patti has arranged and managed many travel groups including Radio Talk Show Hosts, Dennis Prager and Chef Jamie Gwen.

For the past five years, Patti has been pursuing her passion, luxury culinary and wine travel.  In doing so, she has arranged groups for famous chefs, restaurant owners, cookbook authors and food and wine enthusiasts.  She is a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals and is currently getting ready to launch her website www.luxuryculinaryadventures.com This website will offer exciting travel for all “foodies” including those who would like to lead a culinary or wine group and those who would simply like to join one of her existing groups.

People are looking for something different to do when traveling besides lying on the beach. When you travel through the world exploring food, you see an interesting window about the culture and the environment because food is truly the bridge between the land and the culture.

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KRISTA ADKINS
krista@coastlinetravel.com

Krista’s interest in travel began as far back as junior high when her theater group went to New York City. A trip to London and Paris the following year – WOW!  She was hooked!  Studying broadcast journalism in high school, Krista was called upon to emcee various school assemblies and her work with the student council provided her experience in organizing large school wide events.

During her years at Arizona State University, Krista found more opportunities to work with people through class projects such as volunteering her time to charity golf tournaments, Phoenix Film Festival, and the National Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Convention. Her passion for special events and meeting new people continued while interning at different Event Management Firms helping launch BMW’s 3 Series Convertible and raising money for Junior Diabetes.

Being exposed to so many different types of people from all over the world it ignited a curiosity in Krista for other cultures.  Trying to fill this yearning, she studied abroad as part of her junior year in Austria and Holland. During this time she was able to travel extensively visiting 7 European countries. At the young age of 22, Krista graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Tourism Development and Management from the College of Public Programs at Arizona State University. 

Although Krista is new to the travel industry, she is not new to travel. Let her be the one to plan your next rare journey to Nepal or to capture a glimpse of the historic Sri Lanka and its ancient heart of Buddhism.

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BETH LEWIS, Executive Assistant
beth@coastlinetravel.com

Beth has been involved with Coastline Travel in one way or another for the last fifteen years.  While in high school she worked as an office assistant.  After graduating she attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in Central California, following which she was offered a job as a personal assistant for a prominent family in New York.  Wanting to broaden her horizon and life experiences, Beth packed her bags and started a new life on the East Coast.  Throughout her time in New York she traveled extensively and volunteered with Coastline Travel as an escort for their East Coast groups, as well as the Hawaii Invitational International Music Festival. 

In 2003, Beth moved back to Orange County.  After spending two years at home as a full time mother, Beth was ready to restart her professional career.  With her education, experience as a personal assistant, previous involvement with Coastline Travel, and her strong attention to detail, she was the perfect candidate for the executive assistant position recently opened at the agency.  Beth’s attention to the detail, no matter how small, will insure that all aspects of your trip are complete from beginning to end.  She wants to make every trip the vacation of a lifetime!

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LEAH BERGNER, Travel Consultant
LBergner@Coastlinetravel.com

Leah was born in Los Angeles and moved to the Midwest at the age of 2, but returned in her full glory at the age of 13 never again braving the brutal winters of Chicago.

After graduating at the top of her class from a local Southern California high school, Leah went on to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology and European/WWII History at the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1997.  It was in Santa Barbara, and after several consecutive years of community and student outreach, that Leah decided a career in education might prove rewarding.  Leah graduated from UCSB and pursued an even higher level of education from California State University, Long Beach.  Here, she received her graduate degree and credentials in primary education.  Leah taught for three years in the Long Beach and Anaheim public school system focusing on reading development and child advocacy.  Children in her care never went a day without learning about the wonders of the world outside of their own.  She hopes to transfer this enthusiasm to her traveling clients as well--There is so much in the world to see!

Upon meeting Jay Johnson (President, Coastline Travel Advisors) and his family three years ago at an upscale café in Bixby Knolls, Leah took interest in the luxury travel industry.  She recognized that she continued to have a great passion for learning outside what textbook pages could offer and could still use her educating skills in this field.

Leah enjoys shopping, fine cuisine and wine in the company of good friends and of course traveling.  A true Californian indeed!  In fact, Leah makes it a point to find the hot spots at every destination that will satisfy any palette.  Leah’s goal is to provide the utmost in travel advice and customer service, and takes great pride in being part of such a phenomenal Virtuoso agency.  Your wish can be a dream fulfilled and realized as she plans every detail of your next adventure!

Considering a trip to lovely Jamaica?—speak with Leah, as she has experienced the ultimate pampering escape at six different 5-star properties, living lavishly alongside warm, teal-blue waters for a week…

Are you anxious to set sail and tour the Mediterranean or Greek Isles?—Allow Leah to tell you all about Crystal Cruises’ impeccable service and unsurpassed reputation, while customized itinerary ashore helps you make the most of your trip.
It’s guaranteed you’ll come back spoiled!

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." -- Helen Keller

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CAITLIN MURPHY, Travel Consultant
caitlin@coastlinetravel.com

Caitlin comes to Coastline Travel Advisors from the Washington D.C. area where she was born and raised. She started playing fast-pitch softball at the age of five, and continued to play competitively for the next seventeen years. Through hard work and dedication, she received a scholarship to attend Virginia Tech where she excelled both scholastically and athletically. Caitlin graduated in 2006 with a bachelor of science degree in business, with course emphasis in Virginia Tech's highly regarded hospitality and tourism management program.

Caitlin had traveled extensively throughout the United States due to her participation in competitive softball, but yearned to see and experience what the rest of the world had to offer. She briefly worked as a field specialist for Worldstrides, Inc. to gain a solid foundation in the travel industry, and her passion for travel and tourism led her to take her own trip of a lifetime. Believing there is no better time than the present to make your dreams a reality, a few short months ago, Caitlin set out on her own and went on the adventure of a lifetime. She toured Western Europe by train, and immersed herself in the diverse cultures of Madrid, Rome, Cinque Terre, Florence, Venice, Salzburg, Munich, Zurich, Paris, Amsterdam, Brugge, London, and Galway. It was an unforgettable voyage, and Caitlin hopes to inspire and share that same feeling with you.

Not only is Caitlin passionate about travel, but she is also known for being a food and restaurant enthusiast. She has always sought out new foods and dining experiences, ranging from street vendors and markets to five-star restaurants, and will consult all sources of information to fully experience what a town, city, or country has to offer, from Zagat reviews to local impression.

Caitlin is looking forward to sharing her travel knowledge, experience, passion, and excitement with the clients of Coastline Travel Advisors.  The sky is the limit!

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ANN SANTILLAN , Travel Consultant
ann@coastlinetravel.com

Ann came to Coastline Travel in 2001 after a career with Princess Cruise Lines. Ann’s experiences with the cruise line industry have given her the tools required to offer the best cruise experiences to her clients. She knows the ins and outs with almost all cruise lines, making a request never too difficult.         

On top of having an immense knowledge of the cruising industry, Ann is fully equipped with information on all land vacations. Ann understands that travelers like options, which is why she is a certified specialist for many tour operators. Ann does not just research the best tour operator for your needs she will research the best two, three, or more. With so many options available these days, Ann determined to find the most appropriate vacation for you and your needs.      

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NORMA MULLIGAN, Travel Consultant

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