Travel Solutions Group (TSG) surrounds itself with noted experts in many facets of the travel industry allowing us to provide additional benefits to our clients. The founders of Travel Solutions Group began their careers approximately 25 years ago and are recognized for their expertise in the travel industry.

Mark L. Walton, Principal
Mark Walton, founding partner, enjoys a successful career within the travel and consulting industries that spans more than 25 years. His 13-year tenure at Northwest Airlines, Inc. included his role as Manager of Commercial and International Sales and Marketing where he was responsible for strategic planning and implementation initiatives relating to the corporate travel marketplace. Additionally, Mr. Walton was responsible for determining Northwest's strategic direction in the international arena, involving service to both Asia and Europe.

After leaving Northwest, Mr. Walton joined Arrington Travel Center (prior to its acquisition by Navigant International) as Vice-President of Sales, Client Relations, and Operations. Within five years, his leadership resulted in agency growth of nearly 50% achieved by expanding its services beyond the Chicago market to become one of the nation's largest travel management companies.

Prior to co-founding Travel Solutions Group, he served as the Director of Business Development at Workflow Solutions, a leading provider of expense management automation solutions, where he assisted in creating the Travel Systems Group Division.

A noted industry thought leader, Mr. Walton is quoted in Business Travel News, Travel Weekly, Business Travel Executive, The Wall Street Journal Online and the The New York Times. In addition, he is a frequent presenter at industry events such as The Association of Corporate Travel Executives, The National Business Travel Association and various regional forums.

David K. Hillman, Principal
David K. Hillman has been involved with the travel industry since 1980 with extensive experience in both line management and consulting in the US and overseas. Dave was an executive with Thomas Cook Travel and served on the Board of Directors of Thomas Cook, Inc. until it was acquired by Dun & Bradstreet in 1985. He then launched his consulting career in the travel industry first as a Partner in Networld Consulting and then in the consulting practice of Deloitte & Touche.

At Deloitte & Touche, Mr. Hillman's clients reflected a broad range of industries. Dave led firm-wide industry groups for travel and leisure. His consulting engagements include industry best practice studies, travel management process improvement engagements. T&E reporting systems selection, aviation studies, hospitality and gaming industry assignments and rental car projects among many other travel industry related engagements.

Deloitte has been a leader in assisting prominent buy-out firms with some of the largest M&A transactions involving a travel or leisure industry related business. These included large travel agencies, hotel and resort companies, car rental organizations and restaurant chains. Since leaving Deloitte in 2000, Dave has continued his activities with M&A and joined Travel Solutions Group, a leader in travel related M&A assistance, as Principal. He and Mark Walton are the principals and equity partners in TSG. They are also partners in Consulting Strategies, a full-service consultancy specializing in corporate travel management.

Mr. Hillman is a frequent speaker at travel industry and commercial card conferences, a past member of the Board of Governors for the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) and a member of the National Business Travel Association (NBTA).

He holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Rhode Island and an MBA from Columbia University.