About
Todd Powell co-founded Vacations By Rail in 2004, bootstrapping the start-up to becoming one of the United States’ largest producers of rail vacations and train tours throughout the world. In 2011, he and his business partner expanded overseas with the launch of Holidays By Rail, the company’s UK-based subsidiary. In 2016, Powell spearheaded the acquisition of Canada à la Carte, a travel and tour brand specializing in custom travel packages to Canada.
Powell fell in love with rail travel while studying abroad in Rome, Italy. He has traveled by train extensively throughout Europe, USA and Canada experiencing everything from long distance overnight trains, modern high-speed trains, scenic and luxury trains. Powell, with the support of the Vacations By Rail staff, evaluates rail journeys based on personal experience, Vacations By Rail staff experience and extensive customer feedback. Powell has been featured in radio, television and print to give his perspective on leisure rail journeys and experiential travel.
Prior to starting his own company, Powell held management and executive team appointments inside and outside of the travel industry. Starting his career at DER Travel Services/German Rail, he quickly moved into supervisory roles and call center management, where he implemented cost savings and efficiency procedures. During the dot-com explosion, Powell drafted business plans for presentation to venture capital firms. He continued his career at Accenture in its high-tech communications and human performance practice group where he worked on CRM and call center projects for Fortune 500 companies, such as PepsiCo, Ameritech (AT&T) and Washington Mutual Bank. Following Accenture, he was hired by Private Label Travel, Inc. to oversee Amtrak Vacations marketing and the Amtrak relationship before moving into a business development role.
Mr. Powell is an attorney and a member of the Illinois State Bar. He is an active participant of the IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law Entrepreneurial Advisory Board.
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The Business Is More Than The Business
