Ilana graduated in 2014 with minors in Finance and Hebrew. She is currently an MBA student at Baruch.
Ilana is the Operations Manager and Co-Founder at High Quality Tours. She is also the Director of Tours & Logistics at ABCVIP, and is a Program Manager at the World Zionist Organization.
Ilana on International Business at Baruch
In undergrad, I took an International Business class that emphasized the importance of accounting for cultural and economic differences when conducting business internationally. That exposure helped me better service international guests in NYC and set their expectations, contributing to my success in the tourism business.
Ilana on the Tourism Industry
The tourism industry is highly volatile and tied to inflation, the economy, safety, politics, and prices. For example, these two weeks in December have some of the highest room rates in NYC because of the influx of people—it’s a supply-and-demand game. Being data-driven is very important. Networking is also crucial—it’s about who you know.
Ilana on her business: High Quality Tours
I started a travel business 10 years ago where we accommodate incoming groups to NYC, taking care of transportation, lodging, hotels, events, airport transfers, and other needs. Starting my own business involved focusing on business development and operations in a completely new industry. I took many classes on working with international groups and people from different countries, which aligned perfectly with what I ended up doing. I found myself using skills I learned, like adapting to the needs of different cultures and understanding that different groups have unique perceptions. As part of my role, I have participated in trade shows, showcased my business, worked with many partners, and ran several events. I was also part of women-in-tourism panels, which had great turnouts.
Ilana’s Update
I recently joined a company called ABC VIP, a concierge company, as an advisor on tourism and logistics. The owner admired what we achieved at High Quality Tours and asked me to join her team in a consulting position. It’s exciting to see how pursuing something opens doors to new opportunities in different spheres.
Ilana on Leadership
Leadership is about understanding people and what they need. It’s about psychology and effective communication—not just public speaking but listening, asking the right questions, and connecting with people personally. When you truly understand people and their needs, you get results. Investing in people and communicating effectively sets apart good leaders.
Ilana’s Advice
Use Baruch’s Resources: Leverage your professors—they’re there to assist and guide you. Most have been in the industry for a long time and have insights you won’t find elsewhere. Sometimes we look far for mentors when they’re right in front of us. STARR Center is another great resource!
Find your unique skill or passion: Find what makes you different and enables you to add value—that’s what helped me. Companies want to see what you can bring to the table to help them improve. You need to demonstrate that clearly in interviews. To do that, you must retain as much information as possible about the industry, know what’s happening, and stay informed.