What makes our team special are their years of experience and dedication to making each trip special. Our staff have traveled the world and learned to understand the different cultures with whom they interact. Moreover, they spend an infinite amount of time learning to understand your needs so that they can program a trip that will be unforgettable.

It takes years of experience to program special moments & our team knows just how to do it right.

Philadelphia Office

Igal Hami Owner and CEO Iris Hami VP and CFO

Carmen Pratt Chief Operating Officer

Sharon Cheeseman General Manager

Susan Blum Israel Department Manager

Armanda Albert Executive Leisure Travel Consultant

Fredric Bomze Executive Leisure Travel Consultant

Donna PalmieriTravel Consultant, Executive Project Manager

David Fausnaught Special Projects Manager

Samantha Sultzer Group Travel Consultant

Neha Naje Travel Consultant

Ariel Lipszyc Product Development Administrator

Ilana Blumenthal Creative Marketing Manager

Yael Goren Marketing and CommunicationsManager

Barbara Nussbaum Customized EducationalTravel Consultant

Alma Frasheri Accounting Department Manager

Mody Koffman Accounting Department

Sherry Kovoor Birthright Agent

Luca Dessardo Birthright Agent

Rachel Zatuchni Birthright Agent

Kunthea Chrin Birthright Assistant

Kathleen Duckworth Receptionist

Shimon Dooz

New York Office

Leonora Vorsovskaya Operations and Product DevelopmentManager

Julian Banegas Group Department Manager

Miriam Osman Operation Manager

Anna Evenzahav Bible Lands and Reformation Group Tours

Karen Allen Travel Consultant

Tel Aviv Office

Dalia Djiji Tour Operator

Ayelet Antebi Tour Operator

Travel Agent Bio’s

Susan Blum, Israel Department Manager Specializing in Israel travel since 1975, Susan started her career with a small Israeli firm that became known nationwide. Susan joined Gil Travel in 1981 and has successfully sent large and small movements, including family, bar/bat mitzvah, synagogue tours, organizational and incentive, specialty and private car tours to Israel. Susan’s knowledge of the country and hotels is vast and as a result gets many referrals from clients whose travel to Israel she arranged. Susan has also attended Temple University Real Estate School and graduated with honors.

Fredric Bomze, Executive Leisure Travel Consultant Senior travel professional with over 24 years experience in the travel industry. As an individual travel specialist, Fred’s expertise is in the international market with a focus on Israel & Europe. Fred has created unique and enriching itineraries for many of the region’s top executives and their families. During his travel career Fred has consulted and prepared numerous ”round-the-world” itineraries. In addition to his many areas of expertise he is also well versed in coordinating travel for the student market. Most recently he has arranged various educational programs for students to Peru, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, and Israel. Fred received an MBA from La Salle College in May, 1984 and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from The American University in Washington, D.C. in May, 1981.

Armanda Albert, Executive Leisure Travel Consultant As a baby, Armanda and her family fled Fascist Italy for Israel. Armanda has never stopped travelling since. An Israeli Army Veteran; a University of Rome Graduate; fluent in English, Italian, and Hebrew, Armanda has visited every Continent except for Antarctica. She has been to over 50 countries, of which many Armanda has visited multiple times. This passion for travel prompted Armanda to join Gil Travel in 1980. For over 30 years, she has imparted this enthusiasm and real world travel experience in helping her clients plan trips that are unique and memorable. Armanda is very well versed in the upscale market and her attention to service and detail ensure a smooth and organized planning process that results in a problem-free trip. From villas in Tuscany to safaris in Kenya to cruises in China to Bar Mitzvahs in Israel, Armanda’s passion is to make sure her clients experience the pure joy that she herself feels when traveling throughout the world.

Donna Palmieri, Travel Consultant Donna Palmieri has been a travel consultant at Gil Travel since May 2006. With family in Israel, she has been there numerous times and has extensive knowledge about the beautiful country. Donna has planned small family groups and large group trips with Jewish, Christian and Interfaith interest. She graduated from Penn State University in May 2006 with a Bachelors Degree in Accounting.

Samantha Sultzer, Group Travel Consultant Samantha Sultzer has been with Gil Travel since May 2015. Though Samantha is new to Gil Travel, she is not new to the Travel and Hospitality industry. Samantha started her tourism career at FROSCH Travel in 2012 working in the Private Client Services department, specializing in VIP and unique travel itineraries around the world. She then moved on to work for Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, as a Front Desk Manager at Hotel Palomar, Philadelphia. With Samantha’s experience on both sides of the ever-growing travel industry she is able to cater to client needs as well as build great relationships with vendors she works with. Samantha specializes in group domestic itineraries; including lodging, touring, dining, along with the Jewish history of each city.

Ariel Lipszyc, Product Development Administrator Ariel Joined Gil Travel in November 2015. He was born and raised in Argentina, and also spent some time in Israel. He speaks Spanish, English and Hebrew. Ariel graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology. Before joining Gil Travel, he worked for the prestigious International Baccalaureate Organization.

Leonora Vorsovskya, Operations and Product Development ManagerBorn in Kiev, Ukraine and graduated from Kiev State Pedagogical University as a school teacher, Leonora immigrated to the United States during the collapse of the former Soviet Union. Shortly after her arrival to the US, she started a travel agent carrier in a small retail agency in Brooklyn, NY. In 1997, while attending New York University as a Hospitality Management, Travel & Tourism major, Leonora was offered a full-time job as a destination specialist and eventually became an Operations Manager. At Gil Travel, Leonora arranges and coordinates all aspects of travel for groups and individuals. She specializes in Jewish Heritage Tours and assistance in searching for family roots.

Always having loved to travel to different countries around the world (she had visited over 40 countries), even while living behind the “Iron Curtain,” she is always willing to share her travel experience, knowledge and expertise as a true destination expert.

Anna Evanzahav, Bible Lands and Reformation Group Tours Having lived in Israel, Greece and the United States Anna understands and knows the logistics of travel. Anna started her travel career in Greece. She was a key person in establishing a cultural exchange program between Israel and Greece in the early 1980s. She returned to the United States in late 1988 when she joined Oren travel International, specializing in Bible Land Tours. She works with Pastors of all denominations nationwide. Anna’s specialty is in designing and the wholesale pricing of special itineraries such as: “In the footsteps of Jesus,” “Journeys of Paul,” and “From Exodus to Fulfillment of Prophecy.” She also specializes in organizing Reformation tours to Europe.

Her Motto is “Meet all the needs and specifications that the TOUR Leader NEEDS.” Contact her for the “Trip of a lifetime.”

Karen Allen, Expert Travel Consultant Karen’s passion is conceptualizing, organizing and implementing travel to Israel. She has been doing this for families, community leadership, couples, women, Jewish and interfaith groups for more than 20 years. Each itinerary is tailored specifically for that clientele, and she works with clients throughout the United States.

The trip sizes may vary from a family of four to a group of 100. Her planning allows you to focus on what’s important for you, whether it is sightseeing at its finest, fundraising, outdoor adventures or relationship building with an agency, hospital or Israeli town of your choosing.

Karen’s knowledge extends beyond Israel. She has planned specialized Jewish focused trips and has led groups to the Former Soviet Union and Europe. Her expert knowledge provides the necessary skills in helping you plan “the trip of your dreams” to anywhere you’d like to go.

The association between Karen and Gil Travel first began in 1989, during her 22-year employment at the Birmingham Jewish Federation. Karen officially joined the Gil Travel Team in September 2006.