RMP Travel Inc. has redefined the art of destination management and travel planning for over four decades. Headquartered in New York City, this award-winning company has been the trusted partner for clients seeking tailored travel experiences across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. From its humble beginnings in 1979, organising theatre outings paired with fine dining experiences, to becoming a leader in bespoke group itineraries and luxury travel programmes, RMP Travel has built a legacy of innovation, creativity and unwavering professionalism.
Whether orchestrating seamless corporate incentives, arranging exclusive Broadway backstage experiences, or crafting one-of-a-kind cultural tours, RMP Travel approaches every project with a commitment to excellence and a personal touch. Their in-house team ensures that every journey — from initial concept to flawless execution — leaves clients with cherished memories. Guided by their philosophy of “The Sky Is the Limit,” RMP Travel continues to push boundaries, delivering experiences that are as extraordinary as the destinations themselves.
Suzi Steiger, President of RMP Travel, shares how the company stays ahead in an ever-evolving industry, continually turning dreams into reality for travellers worldwide…
Could you tell us a bit about the history and founding vision of RMP Travel Inc.?
In 1979, RMP Travel Inc. was launched as a company that offered theatre tickets with a dining experience to groups. The business thrived, and a healthy domestic client base was developed. The company expanded its portfolio to meet the needs of hotel rooms, creative itineraries, transportation, and more.
In 1984, Suzi Steiger joined the company with a background working as a receptive tour operator and in sales management with Sheraton Hotels. The original owner of RMP had now decided it was time to retire and move to Florida.
In 1986, the then-owner of RMP Travel arranged a gradual buyout of his company to Ms. Steiger and a partner. This became a fait accompli on New Year’s Eve in 1986. This was a step toward greater growth and development. RMP became the ground operator in New York for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Holland America Line. This exposure and further involvement as members of the New York Convention & Visitors Bureau, National Tour-, American Bus-, & Ontario Motorcoach Associations more firmly entrenched RMP as a major player in the industry.
In 1990, Suzi became the sole owner of RMP Travel and started courting the international market. By attending Pow Wow USA and Pow Wow Europe and representation at SITE University, RMP started establishing itself deeper in the incentive market. Hiring staff with multi-lingual capabilities and taking on representation in Europe rounded out this expansion.
Since 1990, RMP Travel has widely expanded its portfolio — maintaining its domestic client base but increasing its international scope. The company began handling medical congress accommodation arrangements throughout the US. RMP established Sales Offices in Cologne and London to cover representation in the UK, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
In 2018, RMP Travel celebrated its 40th Anniversary! As one approaches a 40-year marker in business — surviving all obstacles and still imagining growth and creative possibilities — it is a time of reckoning. It is a time of celebration and acknowledgement that we are still excited to do what we do. And it is an understanding of how we have changed and wanting to convey that change in our outlook and appearance. We claim who we are and where we are going and invite you to join us on the journey.
Post-COVID, we rally further developing our luxury market clientele and offerings and prepare for World Cup 2026.
The sun, the moon and the 5 stars — our logo speaks to our vision — it is infinite. The sky is the limit! Meaning there is no limit to what we can provide for you. Give us an idea of what you would like to experience, and we create your final end product so that you can experience memories of a lifetime.
What sets RMP Travel apart from other travel agencies?
RMP Travel Inc. is an international inbound tour operator or DMC company. Our knowledge of the industry and cultural nuances after 45 years in business is vast and always updating. Our abilities as a DMC in New York are unsurpassed. Having also done many years of medical / pharma group business in major cities throughout the US has made our ability to host clients in all major US cities unsurpassed as we maintain contacts and update our knowledge regularly. If needed, we will send staff to other cities to support a programme. So we can offer our expertise throughout the US, Canada and Aruba. We also continue to learn and develop new markets so that we can deliver appropriate service and meet current client needs. Our knowledge from students, MICE, luxury, pharma and FIT makes us very flexible and an easy go-to for our clients.
How does RMP Travel maintain its focus on high-quality travel experiences for clients, even as the industry evolves?
We custom design all of our programmes based on the needs and nuances of the client. Every quote is tailored. We also keep ourselves updated by attending many travel industry trade shows where we can see the needs and responses of clients and adjust our product offerings accordingly. I serve on the NYDEC board, an extension of the US Department of Commerce export efforts. This allows for continuous exposure and the ability to gauge markets of interest and exposure to the clientele.
What major shifts have you observed in the travel industry in recent years, particularly in response to global events like the pandemic?
The pandemic affected our industry greatly. While there was little to no business for 2-3 years, we did what it took to survive and reinvent our company. We still attended trade shows. We worked with Commercial Services offices to continue to meet and get exposure in 20 different countries. We were able to assess the needs of clients from these areas going forward. We used this period to develop our position in the luxury market, which was the strongest market in which to return to travel.
We also did many webinars on different market sectors and travel guidance as business started to return. One negative that has arisen from COVID is the lack of staffing amongst our suppliers, our difficulty in getting responses from hotel staff and restaurants, and all of the suppliers that we need to get answers from to offer proposals to our clients.
How do you anticipate the preferences of luxury travellers evolving, and how is RMP Travel preparing to meet those changing needs?
Since luxury travel is very individually focused, each request needs to be met with many questions so that we can assess how to best meet those needs. Everyone goes for different types of hotels, villas, adventures, geographical explorations, dining or transportation. We need to learn about the expected experience and the various tastes. It is a more creative venture as we also explore different ways to meet the needs of clients.
Are there any travel trends or destinations you see gaining momentum in the next few years?
The luxury market is booming. MICE- corporate incentive or MICE is slower to return.
RMP Travel specialises in creating bespoke travel experiences. Can you share an example of one of the most memorable or complex itineraries you’ve curated for a client?
We have the opportunity to partner with some very creative agencies. For example — we are working with a luxury agent developing a sector of her market of people who belong to book clubs to join a tour we created to pick a specific author and customise a programme that includes visiting iconic places featured in the Novel. The author meets with the group during their tour a few times. The author has written many books that take place in NYC, and the group gets to see visually what they imagined as they read the book. We are excited to see this endeavour take off!
How does your team approach crafting personalised trips that reflect the unique tastes and interests of your clients?
We work hard to continuously stay updated on changes in different destinations. We meet suppliers at various trade shows, attend showcase events, and play tourists ourselves to get new experiences. New York is an ever-changing landscape, and we actively experience new attractions, new restaurants, new Broadway shows, tour new hotels, and stay very involved. We are in the process of getting ready to offer World Cup packages for 2026 and Route 66 anniversary packages for 2025.
Are there any new projects or partnerships RMP Travel is working on that you’re particularly excited about?
We are excited about the World Cup coming to the US, especially as the finals are taking place in the NY area. I started attending ILTM ( International Luxury Travel Market) in Cannes a number of years ago in December and look forward to returning this December.
Where do you see RMP Travel Inc. in the next 5-10 years? What are your long-term goals?
As business returns, we need to increase our staff to accommodate the increased business we are winning. Although we were a staff of 15 at one time, we do not project building back up to that number. However, we can see that we need to increase staff in order to accommodate the increase in requests. In the long term, we see that our business is growing; we love what we do and do not have any desire to stop!!!
How do you ensure that RMP Travel stays at the forefront of innovation and client satisfaction in the ever-evolving travel landscape?
Our total industry involvement domestically and internationally keeps us aware of all the new things that there is to learn that we can offer. We provide 24/7 service when our clients travel and request that they inform us if they have a problem at the time that it occurs so that we can fix it on the spot and make sure that they do not leave unhappy.
What has been your most unforgettable travel experience, and how has it influenced the way you design trips for your clients?
Personally, I travel to Aruba annually. The focus on tourism and the high level of service and hospitality on this island is a clear example of what we can all do to take care of our clients and to ensure that their travel experiences are of high quality and welcoming of a continued relationship. Service counts!
To find out more about RMP Travel and book a trip, visit the links below…
Web: rmptravelinc.com
Tel: +1.212.581.8051
Email: suzi.steiger@rmptvl.com
Instagram: @rmptravelinc
