Testimonials
Over the years, Stacy Fiorentinos, founder and President of Classic Escapes, has worked with many organizations to develop dynamic travel programs and has come in contact with numerous researchers, particularly in Africa. This is what some had to say.
Organizations:
I’ve worked with Ms. Fiorentinos for more than 15 years. She was instrumental in building our foreign travel program from one safari each year to many more! It’s always fun working with Stacy, my staff agrees. If you’re considering a company to handle your group travel needs, give Stacy a try, she’s well-connected in the business and can get you everything you need! Jack Hanna, Director Emeritus, Columbus Zoo Host, Jack Hanna's "Animal Adventures."
This statement is provided as personal testimonial to the incredible travel arranging abilities of Stacy Fiorentinos. I have had the good fortune to have engaged her services for over 15 years in travel programs for the Memphis Zoo and for several trips just for my family. Stacy is thoroughly knowledgeable of wonderful destinations in every part of the world from her own extensive travel experiences. Her personal contacts in distant lands makes for memorable times without worry. Her advice and recommendations are always on target. Charles G. Wilson, Memphis Zoo Director Emeritus
Stacy Fiorentinos is a traveler's dream. As the Goodwill Ambassador for one of the top zoos in the country, I have had the privilege of leading groups on wildlife adventures planned and coordinated by Stacy for over a decade. She demands only the best for her clients and provides nothing less. Through her extensive experiences visiting properties and her personal relationships with the people who live and work in the exotic destinations that she services, she is able to create itineraries that are unforgettable and will inspire feelings that words alone cannot describe. Her attention to detail is second to none and her determination to ensure that you experience the trip of a lifetime is truly unparalleled. As a small child, I would constantly dream of exploring far away lands and wild places. Thanks to Stacy, I, as well as my fellow travelers, have been able to live those dreams over and over again! When taking the type of trip that Classic Escapes provides, the most important thing to have is "peace of mind." With Stacy, you will have that and so much more. Ron Magill, Miami MetroZoo
I have led over 20 trips to Africa with several different tour operators. Stacy Fiorentinos is one of the best in the business. I recommend her without reservation. She is knowledgeable, experienced, flexible and above all professional. Her knowledge of Africa and other eco-tour destinations is exceptional. I have entrusted her with some very special VIP's and have never been disappointed. Rick Barongi, Director, Houston Zoo
It has been my great pleasure to have worked with Stacy Fiorentinos for over 15 years to develop a viable travel program for the Dallas Zoological Society. Stacy’s professional guidance has allowed me to learn about the travel business as affiliated with nonprofit organizations. She has provided innovative, creative ideas to enhance our program, and are always willing to go that extra mile to ensure our success. My travelers always reported that they received excellent service from Stacy and her staff, and that they felt the trips we had developed were some of the most unique and satisfying they had experienced. Her responsiveness to my needs – no matter how outlandish! – has always been exemplary. Without her able assistance and leadership, I feel certain that our travel program would have been much less effective.I look forward to continuing our partnership under Classic Escapes in the years to come. Karen Hamilton, Vice President-Membership, Dallas Zoological Society
Stacy Fiorentinos is very detail-oriented, well-informed, and provides wonderful customer service. Stacy is extremely knowledgeable in her field, and always goes above and beyond what I request of her. This knowledge helped to make my job easier in planning and implementing numerous trips for my company. From the planning stages of a trip until the end, I knew I could always call Stacy with questions and she would provide a thorough response in a very timely manner. Her timeliness provided a sense of security for me and all the travelers in the group. It was simply a pleasure working with Stacy. Patti Glover, LA Zoo
Most people who are willing to spend up to $12,000 each on a single trip must have confidence in the way that the trip is organized and the likelihood of it proceeding flawlessly. They fully recognize that itineraries to interesting places will vary from the intended because of conditions "on the ground", but they do expect that formal arrangements, made here in the U.S. or by agents in the host countries, deal with as many eventualities as possible. In looking for someone to help organize and coordinate this level of detail, I must have an individual to work with who has a good knowledge of the areas likely to be visited, the conditions to be encountered, the facility manager and guides, the standards of the places we are going to and the way that they are run. They must be able to accurately assess the overall quality of the experience that the participants will get. In the preparation phase there must be efficient and regular communication, which is proactive and not driven by the client needing to initiate regular contact. Information should flow back and forth efficiently and quickly, especially at these planning stages, so that decisions can be made within reasonable timeframes about itinerary costs, alternatives, and other factors which need analysis and timely decisions. The participants must be provided with relevant, well illustrated information about what they are likely to see and as the time for the trip approaches (three to four months out) receive up to date and accurate suggestions about how they need to prepare. In the last four to six weeks before the trip, when people tend to get a bit anxious and are most conscious of the need to prepare, there must be a mechanism whereby participants can get answers to questions and assurance of timely handling of documents, insurance, ticketing, final itineraries and so on.
I have found that Stacy, consistently over the years, has been able to carry out all these functions more efficiently than anybody else I have had dealings with. She is particularly strong in the initial planning, information gathering and analysis of the various alternatives and their costings and is a proactive communicator on a regular basis. I am certain that in her new independent role, she will also be able to service that critical four week to four months period before actual travel with the right level of relevant information and assurance that discerning travelers require. Dr. David Jones, Director, North Carolina Zoological Park
The Indianapolis Zoo has worked with Stacy Fiorentinos for many years. Her knowledge of the country, the camps, the local attractions and people have helped us to create spectacular, one-of-a-kind trips for patrons. No request has ever been too large or too small, from arranging special side trips for individuals to ensuring that preferred beverage and diet selections are provided. I always have great confidence when working with Stacy that all of the details will be right and that while on the trip, our people will be well cared for and have the experience of a lifetime. Karen Burns, Vice President of External Relations, Indianapolis Zoo
As a director of a small zoo in a small and price-sensitive town, I had trouble getting travel representatives to put together realistic travel programs for us, or to even respond with proposals. Stacy was always able to create great custom trips that our clients could afford, and we were able to fill trips every year. Penny Miller, Director, Oglebay Good Zoo
I have been honored to work with one of the most creative and professional people in the travel industry – Stacy Fiorentinos. The energy and ideas that come from working with her is always a joy. We have planned unique journeys all over the world for my clients---South America, Africa, Australia, Asia---and they have been executed down to the finest details. They truly have been "classic escapes.” Sally Brown, President, Ambassadair Travel Club
With over 30 years of safari and field study experience, I know quality. One of the best providers of detail and quality is Stacy Fiorentinos. She and I have worked on some complicated trips, and they were all planned and carried out to perfection. Stacy Fiorentinos is one of the best in the business. Gil Boese, Ph.D., President, Zoological Society of Milwaukee
I’ve entrusted my high-end donors with Stacy on close to 20 trips to Africa, as well as other areas of the world such as Australia, Costa Rica and the Galapagos and the trips always exceeded our expectations. She somehow always thinks of those little extras that made the trips just right. I strongly feel travel is a necessity for capital fundraising, and people I’ve taken on safaris have donated to the Zoo $17 million to-date. Lex Salisbury, President/CEO, Lowry Park Zoo
I have worked with Ms. Fiorentinos for many years, first as President of the Indianapolis Zoo and now as President of the St. Louis Zoo. We have specialized in very high-end excursions with a premium on absolute satisfaction for every person on every trip and Ms. Fiorentinos has always made that goal a perfect reality. She is dedicated to ensuring that every part of our journey, from recruiting our travelers, to making the travel arrangements, to booking the best possible accommodation and itineraries, and, finally, to making the trip itself an experience of a lifetime, is exactly what we want. Thanks to Stacy our travel programs have always been an enormous success.
Jeffrey P. Bonner, Ph.D.,
President/CEO,
Saint Louis Zoo
Researchers:
Coupling her interest in endangered species conservation with travel, Stacy Fiorentinos has helped us forge valuable relationships for our conservation research here in Botswana with several North American Zoos. Her knowledge and enthusiasm for Africa and African wildlife is vast and she seems to know everybody. Stacy counts among only a few professionals in the international tourism industry we have met who not only have a clear understanding of the link between tourism and conservation but also make a personal commitment to make that link real and productive. Dr. J. W. McNutt, Director, Botswana Wild Dog Conservation Program
It is always a great pleasure to work with Stacy Fiorentinos – she is like a member of the family who brings lots of nice people to join us in our work, in our camps and to enjoy the beauty, the fun and the adventure all wrapped up in her enthusiasm. We have also joined hands in many community projects and this too makes our visitors feel that they are participating and not just watching. Oria Douglas-Hamilton, Save the Elephants in Kenya
I have had the pleasure of knowing Stacy Fiorentinos for many years and began working with her in 1996 when she first brought a group of Zoo Directors to our small, but growing Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) Research and Education Centre. Since that first group’s visit, Stacy has promoted our work at CCF and continued to invite her tour groups to stop at CCF and overnight with our neighbours who have guesthouses in the Waterberg Conservancy, helping to support the people on who’s land the cheetah lives. Stacy has worked hard to share our efforts in helping to save the wild cheetah with her clients who are interested in seeing true conservation in action. When CCF’s Kenya project began in 2001, Stacy also took the opportunity to have our researchers there make presentations to her clients, again sharing real conservation with people who care. As a conservationist, I believe that eco-tourism is essential for our wildlife and wild lands to survive. I am therefore pleased to share the work of CCF with tourists who visit Africa, as they will and have become the sponsors of the important work of non-profit, research and conservation education foundations such as CCF. Stacy has been instrumental in supporting this concept and as such, both the wildlife and the tourist have benefited through her putting conservation eco-tourism into practice. Laurie Marker, Founder and Executive Director, Cheetah Conservation Fund
Individual Travelers:
I came home and changed my guestroom into a Safari Room; cheetah comforter, my Maasai necklace framed over the bed and surrounded by framed 8x10 photos I took of animals. My vest, Safari hat, leopard scarf and binoculars are arranged on a chair...I'll never forget this trip! Etta Tourkin, San Diego Zoo Traveler to Kenya, July 2004.
(We) cannot say enough good things about our experience in Tanzania. But then I'm certain you already knew that the group would have a wonderful trip. Friends and family ask us what was our best memory but it's impossible to select just one. You can ask Augustine (who was outstanding in his knowledge and service)...he said it was his best safari ever! Brand new baby hippo, leopard with 2 cubs in a tree, cheetah with 2 cubs hunting, bull elephant strolling through our bush lunch at Ngorongoro Crater, dancing with the Maasai on my birthday - it's a HUGE list!! Paula Susemichel, Indianapolis Zoo Traveler to Tanzania, October 2004.
Our honeymoon was what most people fantasize about: we had excitement, we had adventure and we had romance. It was an experience we will forever have with us and will be able to share with our kids - the adventures on the Serengeti, the trip to the Maasai village, the opulence of the Ngorogoro Crater Lodge, the herd of elephants that came through Lake Manyara at night - it was just AWESOME. We feel as though we lived a lifetime in the short time we were there!! ...The first two nights I barely slept and stayed up all night the one night - literally! I wanted to watch what was going on outside the whole night - I swear there was a party going on - it was so noisy and active and you could hear all the different sounds - there were four different prides of lions roaring all night and the hippos were coming out of the water and next to the tent - there were monkeys on the tent and they were looking for the zipper (on our tent.) I had such a rush I wasn't even tired the next day! We were extremely pampered on our drives and felt safe as kittens even while we were getting charged by elephants! Our only regret is that we weren't able to stay longer! That's the truth - it was amazing. People are awe-inspired with our stories and more recently we had our pictures developed and they are further left in awe. Our appetite is whet for more - we have a new appreciation for Africa and what's more important - a new appreciation for life. It is amazing how the trip has affected us. We definitely hope to have many more returns to Africa and look forward to our next adventure. Thank you for working so hard to make our honeymoon the trip of a lifetime!! Elizabeth Gorski, Classic Escapes Traveler to Tanzania, November 2004.