Our Story
Since 1995, Kartagener Associates Inc. (KAI) has excelled at connecting premier travel brands from across the globe with the travel trade in North America. Focusing exclusively on up-market suppliers in long haul destinations has made KAI an authority on exotic luxury travel.
Our award-winning portfolio includes hotels, safari lodges, luxury trains, DMCs and more.
The KAI team, with nearly 100 years of experience in the industry, has an unparalleled network of travel professionals at the top companies in the North American tourism industry. It is through these relationships, both domestic and abroad, that KAI is able to ensure the ultimate travel experience for your clients.
The Kartageners on David’s first safari, South Africa 1989
(David on tracker seat, Claire in pink, a bearded Henry)
Henry & Claire aboard Rovos Rail in 2008
The KAI Team at the 2019 Summer Outing
History
Following 20+ years in the airline industry, Henry Kartagener sought a new challenge. Knowing that he needed a change, Henry resigned from his post of Marketing & Sales Manager, North America with South African Airways while attending a trade show in South Africa. He immediately began brainstorming with some industry colleagues about what his future in the industry might look like.
In the mid-90’s representation firms such as KAI did not exist for the African market. Henry felt this was an area of need and it is where he found both a challenge and an opportunity. In August 1995, Kartagener Associates Inc. (KAI) was born with three South African suppliers, two of which are still in our portfolio: Rovos Rail and Stocks & Stocks Hotels (now Legacy Hotels & Resorts).
The first decade was spent building the sterling reputation within the North American travel community that we enjoy today, and working with other suppliers – hotels, safari lodges, DMCs, tourism boards – in Southern Africa that also wanted to reap the benefits of having representation in the United States. Given the success of KAI and the desire to grow, the company added clients in East Africa to the portfolio in the late 90’s.
Wishing to diversify the company and build more of a global reach, KAI entered into marketing agreements with international travel companies outside of Africa for the first time in 2004. The early part of the 2000’s was spent further solidifying existing relationships within North America, while finding new opportunities for the KAI portfolio, which now touches five continents (with the firm focused exclusively on long-haul destinations we don’t work with any clients based in Europe or North America). We now have a significant footprint throughout all of Asia and we added our first South American client in 2014.
In 2010 Henry’s eldest son David joined the family business and now holds the title of President at KAI. He is in charge of running the day-to-day operations at the Hoboken, NJ headquarters, while also strategizing with Henry on the future of KAI.
The KAI Collection is now a well-rounded portfolio featuring DMCs, hotels, safari lodges, trains and cruise lines that offer guests the ultimate in travel experiences. It has been a great first 25 years, and now Henry, David & the rest of the team are looking forward to the next 25 being even better!
The KAI Foundation was founded in 2015 in an effort to give back to the communities and people that have given so much to us over the years. The road out of poverty can only commence when those in need have access to quality healthcare and an education. In developing countries, these basic services are simply not available to the majority of the population. The KAI Foundation aims to provide the facilities and support to aid the less fortunate in building successful lives for themselves and promising futures for their children.
Our first project, a maternity ward in the small village of Mugarameno, Zambia opened in December 2016 and the KAI Foundation’s work continues. To learn more about the Foundation and/or find out how you can help, please visit www.kaifoundation.net or email us at foundation@kainyc.com.
KAI Foundation
Affiliations
