Michelle Marini Pittenger is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Travel Goods Association and publisher of Travel Goods Magazine. Several times a year. The Travel Goods Association is the international organization for the travel goods industry. Members include manufacturers, distributors, retailers, promoters, sales representatives and suppliers of luggage and travel products, casual bags, briefcases, computer bags, and business and travel accessories for travelers.

Michele has been a respected journalist for many years as editor-in-chief, a position she has held for 34 years. When not working, she loves to travel both near and far, and is happiest when she is near a body of water. Her idea of fun is spending as much time as she possibly can with her daughter and granddog, and heading out on alpine adventures with her not-very-Miniature Australian Labradoodle, Reed.

You get the best bang for your buck when shopping for travel gear “make a list of three to five ‘musts’ for your new bag and prioritize these as you do research,” said Michele Marini Pittenger, president of the Travel Goods Association. She added, “The manufacturer’s warranty policy can be an indicator of durability, but be sure to check the dimensions of new carry-on bags to avoid getting dinged by extra charges when flying,”

TGA publishes Travel Goods Magazine, the largest trade magazine devoted to travel products. The magazine’s 14,500 readers include retailers, consumer press and trade media. TGA also organizes and sponsors The Travel Goods Show, the world’s largest trade show for travel products. With more than 300 brands representing more than 30,000 products, The Show is the annual must-see event that sets the tone for the travel goods industry.