Business spotlight: Antioch's Black Diamond Travel offers decades of experience booking trips

Name of business: Black Diamond Travel

Type of business: Full-service travel agency

Owners: Jean Tozloski and Robert Steinbach

Founded: 1990

Address: 3240 Lone Tree Way, Suite 203, Antioch

Phone number: 925-754-5340

Hours: Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday byappointment

Number of employees: Linda Grelli, senior agent, and sevenindependent consultants

Products and services: Black Diamond Travel offers experiencedand dedicated professionals offering full-service travel needs. Theyoffer help with personal leisure and business trip arrangements.

They also offer travel destination vacations for groups likeDiscover Cruises, tropical vacations, Mexico vacations, Alaskavacations, Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Their services alsoinvolve finding the best value in vacation packages, hotel andresort finder service.

As travel experts, Black Diamond Travel agents can help travelersplan vacation to just about anywhere in the world.

How did you get into the business: Owner and manager JeanTozloski has been in the travel industry her entire working life,starting part-time in high school at her parents' friend's agency inwestern Massachusetts, with more than 40 years in the business.While working in New York City, she traveled extensively and bookedhundreds of trips, including guided and independent tours to Europe,the Caribbean and the Far East, as well as Australia and all overthe U.S. Since moving to California 27 years ago, she has become aHawaii, South Pacific, Mexico and cruise expert, and enjoysassisting "empty nest" and "multigenerational" clients with theirdream vacations.

Grelli's 30 years in the travel industry, including extensivetravel in Italy, makes her uniquely qualified to help plan trips tothat part of the world. Grelli also works with Black DiamondTravel's Hawaii, Disney and cruise clients to ensure a greatexperience.

Best part about the business: "Making clients travel dreams cometrue," Tozloski said. "Also, helping them create lasting memories."

Worst part about the business: "Potential clients who use us forour knowledge and expertise with no intention of booking with us,"she said.

Key to success: "Combined years of experience in the travelindustry," Tozloski said, which she says amounts to 73 years.

She also said it is important to have a positive attitudethroughout all the years of industry changes. "Positioning theagency to weather and survive the economic downturns is important,"she said.

Biggest misperception about the business: "Booking through travelagencies costs more money and that better deals can be found on theInternet," Tozloski said.

She explained that isn't the case.

"We can offer many added-value amenities that clients do not getby booking direct," she said.

She went on to say that booking through Black Diamond Travel cangive travelers flexibility in options to enhance their travelexperiences, by using the knowledge gained from the travel agents'own personal travels experiences.

Future plans: Tozloski said that she plans to continue to growher business through referrals.

-- Roni Gehlke