EDMONTON — Direct Travel honoured one of its own last week for a remarkable 50 years in the travel industry.

Sue Pechtel, who’s celebrating her 50th anniversary in travel this year, was celebrated at a get together at the Royal Glenora Club in Edmonton, AB by some 90 friends, suppliers, clients and relatives.

Born in Victoria, Pechtel started her career at Blaney’s Travel in 1974. Two years later she moved to Edmonton where she would later meet and marry travel industry colleague Bill Pechtel of Globetrotter Travel. They eventually sold their agency to Vision Travel, which is now part of the North America-wide Directot Ravel. 

Recalling the early days of clunky computers (“Resevac!”), hand-written tickets, stamping brochures and a lot of paperwork, Pechtel says she still sells a lot of everything (even some corporate travel), but really enjoys selling cruising. She also looks back fondly on five decades worth of trips around the world.

“Bill and I have had some wonderful trips; Peru, South Africa, the Mekong, Australia and Dubai all come to mind. And we’ve escorted about 40 cruise groups, including acting as hosts on some Virtuoso departures,” says Pechtel.

As for retirement, Pechtel says she’s too busy to even think about it right now: “You could say I work seven days a week, but I love it. Plus, my clients won’t let me retire!”