P. Jason King, president and founder of P. Jason King Associates, died Nov. 3 due to complications from a broken back. He was 79.

In 1972, King opened what his company described as the first personnel agency servicing only the travel, tourism, transportation and hospitality industries, in New York. During more than 50 years in the industry, King dedicated himself to “placing the right candidates with the right companies,” his company said.

He went on to form the King Group, which also included a range of personnel services and consulting services for travel companies.

In the 1980s, King worked to bring the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act, a federal funding program to provide people with on-the-job training, to the travel industry. A passion of King’s, he arranged interviews, training, and placement within the program with travel companies in the New York area. In 1993, he launched “Vacation Expo ’93,” a travel show open to the public where attendees could visit travel company booths and book trips with onsite travel agencies, which his company said was a first.

King also created what was among the first online travel magazines, “Your Travel News,” and an online rating system. He has conducted industry seminars and workshops and written columns for various travel publications.

During the first year of the pandemic, King launched a nonprofit to raise grant money for travel agencies endangered by the downturn in travel, as well provide business training to help agencies survive.

King is survived by his wife of 54 years, Shani.

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