Edward J. Hogan

Chairman, President, & CEO, The Hogan Family Foundation, Inc.
Founder, Pleasant Holidays, LLC
Chairman, President, & CEO, Pleasant Travel Service

Born to Irish immigrant parents on September 28, 1927, Ed Hogan came through the Great Depression a determined young man. A native of New Jersey, he attended Arts High School. He joined the Naval Air Corps in May, 1945 where he began his career in aviation. He later attended Seton Hall College under the G.I. Bill.

Ed earned his commercial pilot's license and began working for Sky Coach on the East Coast in 1948. In 1951, he flew as a co-pilot for US Air Coach out of Burbank, California. He became District Sales Manager for Transocean Air Lines in Los Angeles in 1954 and served in the same capacity in Honolulu in 1956 and in San Francisco in 1957. Transocean Air was the first tourist flight operation to Hawaii. When Ed transferred to New York in 1958, he became Director of Domestic and Pacific Sales.

In 1959, he and his wife Lynn, a graduate of Pratt Institute, opened their first retail travel agency, Pleasant Travel Service in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. In 1962, they moved the family business to the West Coast, to better serve the destination of Hawaii. In 1992, Pleasant Holidays, LLC reached total revenues of approximately $500 million annually.

In October of 1998, the Hogans sold Pleasant Holidays, LLC to the Auto Club of Southern California. Today, Ed Hogan stays busy serving as Chairman of the non-profit Hogan Family Foundation, Pleasant Travel Service, Pleasant Aircraft Leasing, Royal Pacific Air, Royal Lahaina Development Company, and Royal Lahaina and Royal Kona resorts.

Following his philosophy of "Courage, Compassion and Commitment," Ed continues to be a well-known figure in the travel industry, as the companies he founded attain growth and success in an ever-changing world.

Following is a brief overview of the Hogan enterprises:

PLEASANT TRAVEL SERVICE
Hawaiian Hotels & Resorts (hotel ownership/management: Royal Lahaina Resort on Maui and Royal Kona Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii) and Royal Lahaina Development Group, LLC (Villas at Royal Lahaina)

PLEASANT AIRCRAFT LEASING
In 2004, the Hogans purchased their first Gulfstream jet and launched Pleasant Aircraft Leasing (PAL), catering to the global, luxury travel needs of elite business people, celebrities, and sports figures. PAL is operating the luxury, private jet charter flights through award-winning Clay Lacy Aviation, one of the largest jet charter and aircraft management companies in the world. PAL currently operates two Gulfstream 450s.

ROYAL PACIFIC AIR
In Hawaii, the company operates a Cirrus SR-22, Cessna Grand Caravan and Piper Navajo for business and charter travel between the islands.

THE HOGAN FAMILY FOUNDATION, INC
In 1998, Ed and Lynn Hogan established The Hogan Family Foundation with the mission to promote a greater understanding of the importance of the entrepreneurial spirit through the creation and operation of educational, civic-minded and humanitarian programs designed to encourage a more productive and contributory society.

The Foundation's contribution to education focuses on encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit with the funding of programs in Entrepreneurial Studies at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington and Chaminade University in Honolulu, Hawaii. The programs have graduated hundreds of outstanding students, many having begun their own successful businesses.

The Foundation's humanitarian efforts include the Hogan Angel Flight Program that assists in providing travel arrangements for needy medical patients. Annual contributions in airfare average a quarter million dollars.

The Foundation has also made significant cultural contributions with the building in 2000 of the Gardens of the World, a 4.5-acre community park in Thousand Oaks, California, which features different types of gardens found around the world for the public to enjoy free of charge. The Gardens are also a venue for a series of entertaining jazz band concerts at its central bandstand area, artistic displays, educational programs, docent-led tours, community fundraising events, and other activities.

In 2005, the Foundation built Rancho St. Francis in Hidden Valley, CA, a 23-acre facility which hosts the St. Francis Rangers Program, which teaches underprivileged children how to care for and ride horses, including participation in equestrian show competitions. A second ranch was opened in Camarillo, CA in 2007, adding 14 acres for animal rescue and rehabilitation. This facility is home to the 15 Hands Rescue Sanctuary for horses, Big Paws 4 a Cause, a large breed dog rescue, and other animal welfare programs.

A number of other local organizations, which serve needy women and children, bring their "clients" to the ranches on a regular basis for them to learn to care for the rescued animals, which has shown to be very therapeutic and a positive influence on the lives of both the animals and humans. Additionally, the Foundation's Lifeline 4 Paws and Big Paws 4 a Cause programs provide medical assistance and adoption service for abandoned and abused dogs.

Under the chairmanship of Ed and Lynn Hogan, the Hogan Family Foundation also continues to develop new programs of a philanthropic nature. The Hogan's desire to "give back" to their community and society as a whole is a gesture of gratitude for the success they have enjoyed in their lives.

Since its founding, the Foundation has invested approximately $100 million in its educational and charitable programs.

LEADERSHIP POSITIONS
 
Chairman
1959-2003
Pleasant Holidays
Chairman, President & CEO
1959-Present
Pleasant Travel Service
Trustee
1989
Hawaii Maritime Museum
Board of Directors
1989-2007
Sherwood Country Club, Lake Sherwood, California
Board of Directors
1990-1999
Castle & Cooke
Trustee
1990-1999
Loyal Marymount University, Los Angeles, California
Board of Directors
1997-2003
Dollar/Thrifty Automotive Group
Chairman, President & CEO
1998-Present
The Hogan Family Foundation, Inc.
Board of Directors
1999-2003
Travel Industry Association (Hall of Leadership, 1999)
Advisory Board
2000-Present
Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington. Hogan Program
Advisory Board
2004-Present
Chaminade University, Honolulu, Hawaii. Hogan Program
Board of Directors
2002-2004
California Travel Industry Association
Chairman
2002-2005
Next IT Corporation
President & CEO
2003- Present
Pleasant Aircraft Leasing, LLC
Board of Governors
2004-Present
Chaminade University, Honolulu, Hawaii
President & CEO
2004-Present
Royal Lahaina Development Group, LLC
Board of Directors
2008-2011
Casa Pacifica Centers for Children & Families, Camarillo, CA
Board of Directors
2009-Present
South Coast Youth Leadership Conference, Thousand Oaks
Board of Directors
2009-2010
Santa Barbara Navy League

 

AWARDS
Executive of the Year by Executive Magazine, 1986
Mr. Tourism Hawaii by Hawaii State Senate, 1987, after sending Pleasant's two-millionth visitor to the Islands
Father of the Year by West Coast Father's Day Council, 1989
Pacific Newsmaker of the Year by Travel People Magazine, 1989
Man of the Year by Travel Agent Magazine, 1990
Malihini (newcomer, visitor) Day by Hawaii Governor after Pleasant's three-millionth visitor sent to the Islands, 1991
U.S. Senate Productivity Award in recognition of Pleasant's spirit of innovation and efficiency, 1992
Hall of Fame by American Society of Travel Agents, 1993
25 Most Influential Executives in the Tour & Travel Industry by Tour & Travel News, 1995
Delegate To The First White House Conference On Travel & Tourism by past U.S. President Bill Clinton, 1995
Letter of Commendation by the Governor of Hawaii to acknowledge the Hogan's ongoing contributions to Hawaii tourism, 1996
Maile Award by the Hawaii Visitors Bureau for the Hogan's unwavering support and efforts to promote Hawaii travel, 1996
Salesperson of the Year by The Sales & Marketing Executives of Hawaii, 1997
Travel Industry Hall of Leaders by the Travel Industry Association (TIA), 1999
Odyssey Award by the Travel Industry Association for contributions to tourism through the Hogan Family Foundation, 2000
Travel Industry Leader by Travel Agent Magazine, 2000
Hall of Fame by Hawaii's Junior Achievement Society, for innovative impact on Hawaii tourism, 2001
Hall of Honor by University of Houston's Hospitality, Hotel & Restaurant Management, 2001
Keep It Hawaii accolades from the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau for keeping the Kodak Hula Show (now Pleasant Hawaiian Hula Show) open to the public, 2001
Inspiration Award by the Association of Travel Marketing Executives for the Foundation's unique Mobile Classroom, 2001
Hospitality & Travel Hall of Fame by the Los Angeles Business Journal, 2002
Master Entrepreneur of the Year, Great Los Angeles by Ernst & Young, 2003
Lifetime Tourism Achievement Award by Niagara University, The College of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 2003
Anastasia K. Mann Leadership Award by Travel & Tourism Marketing Association, 2003
Onore de Amerigo Vespucci Award by Traveling Times, Inc. 2004
Gonzaga University Philanthropic Leadership Award 2005
Patriotic Citizen of the Year by the Military Order of World Wars Silver Patrick Henry Medallion, 2006
Commendation by the Governor of Hawaii for the Hogan's efforts in promoting the Entrepreneurial Spirit, 2007
IFAW Animal Action Award Recipient by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), 2007
Bravo Award by the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), 2010
Spirit of Community Award by the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce, 2010
Diamond Award by the Southern California ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents), 2010
Lifetime Achievement for the Arts Award by the Alliance of the Arts in Thousand Oaks, 2012
St. Paschal Men's Club Annual Golf Tournament Honoree in Thousand Oaks, 2013
Community Conscience Mardi Gras Ball King in Westlake Village, 2015

 

HONORARY DEGREES
 
Honorary Doctorate
1989
Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California
Honorary Doctorate
2004
Chaminade University, Honolulu, Hawaii
Honorary Doctorate
2006
Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington

Ed and Lynn are happily married 65 years and make their home at their Chateau Plaisance in Sherwood Country Club in Lake Sherwood, California. At his leisure, Ed spends his time with his dogs, riding horses, and playing golf. They both continue to enjoy their world travels. They have four children: Brian, Christine, Gary and Glenn who holds executive positions in their companies. They have four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.