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SYRACUSE-The world is getting smaller due to the many technological advances made within the past 10 years. Just log onto the Internet and the world is at your fingertips. These days, e-commerce is the focus of many entrepreneurs, but what do the "bricks-and-mortar" businesses do to stay competitive in our technological society? Lou Lemos, president of BTI The Travel Consultants, says that although his company uses the existing technology to serve his customers better, his focus remains on his bricks-and-mortar business. According to Lemos, while technology has changed the pace of the travel industry, it can't replace customer-service-conscious employees.
In 1989, after a 25-year career in sales, Lemos wanted his own business involving sales. While Lemos looked into other fields, none excited him as much as the travel industry. So, with three staffers, including himself, Lemos bought a travel agency. His company has grown from a franchise to an affiliate with World Travel Partners, the third-largest travel-management company in the country, becoming BTI The Travel Consultants.
Today, BTI's...