Q&A with Personal Travel Management's Jenny Revesz
Tell us a little about yourself and how long you’ve been a travel advisor?
I’ve been a travel advisor since shortly after graduating from high school in Sydney, Australia. Throughout my career I feel blessed to have arranged travel plans – and lifelong memories – for clients to visit all corners of the world. I’ve also been tasked as the travel coordinator for several of Canada’s national sports teams. I wouldn’t have survived this long in the industry if I didn’t love exploring the world and this is something my husband, Ian, and I have enjoyed doing our whole lives. In addition to travel, I love our pets which include a wonderful dog, two cats and two saltwater aquariums – a true modern day ‘Old MacDonald’s Farm.’ At home on the Sunshine Coast we enjoy hiking, mountain biking and watching for whales from our balcony.
Why did you decide to become a travel advisor?
I actually was going to go to university to become a teacher when I graduated from high school. However, I took a year off and was offered a job in a travel agency in Sydney as their courier and never looked back. From there I worked in a wholesale agency specializing in Africa and then moved into corporate travel which I thrived on. When I first arrived in Canada I worked for Rikki Hepburn at Kerrisdale Travel before moving to Whistler. After Rikki started Personal Travel Management, I convinced her to let me start a location there and I’ve been with PTM ever since.
It’s from my personal love of travel and adventure that I create unforgettable experiences for my clients and friends. I have been in the industry now for close to 40 years – straight out of school- and I have seen so many changes. I still love it, even through all the changes we’ve all seen in that period of time.
What do you specialize in?
For many years I was a generalist, although a lot of my time was taken by the National teams that I assisted which was often a 24/7 endeavour. Since COVID, I have begun to really specialize in creating custom itineraries for clients wishing to go to the South Pacific, Africa and various expedition cruise locations. This I find enables me to put together incredible itineraries with my incredible operators that I love to work with.
What do you wish everybody knew about travel advisors?
Many clients mistakenly believe that travel advisors are primarily focused on finding the lowest prices. In reality, travel advisors like me strive to provide exceptional value through tailored experiences that align with client budgets and expectations. They often have access to exclusive deals and insights that can enhance their travel experience beyond just cost considerations. I also believe people’s expectation of what it takes to craft a full itinerary is much more difficult and time consuming than they realize. I think this misunderstanding comes from the ease at which consumers can now find hotel prices, flight schedules, and various activities on-line.
What’s your favourite part of the job?
I love all the wonderful and lasting relationships I’ve made over the years – both within the industry and with so many repeat clients. It’s even more fun to be able to share experiences with clients when I’m able to put a group trip together to far-flung places like Africa, the Galapagos and Australia where I really see firsthand the impact these trips have on them. It’s also wonderful to hear from clients when they’ve just returned home and they called me to tell me all about their adventures. This is what brings the most joy to me and reminds me why I put that extra effort into making sure their trip is so well planned.
What destinations and types of trips are you booking right now?
- A custom trip for a group of friends to Tanzania to see the migration in 2025
- New Zealand and Australia
- Galapagos for a group for 2026
- Antarctica expedition cruises
What do you do to grow your clientele?
Referrals are far and away the biggest driver of new business for me. I also do select podcasts and webinars to discuss various destinations. I make a point of asking happy clients to think about me for their friends and family members when they share their most recent travel experiences.
What’s your best piece of advice for new agents?
Never sell based on price. Be proud of the service you provide and market yourself based on the experiences you will help to create and the knowledge you (and your team if you’re new to the industry) are bringing to your itinerary. If you sell on price, you will lose on price as people will always be able to find a less expensive option – even if you know they aren’t comparing apples to apples. It is your knowledge and your connections that they cannot find elsewhere. Stay true to that.
Do you have anything to add?
Being a travel consultant is hard work and sometimes it can be both frustrating and disheartening. It is certainly not the most financially rewarding career choice, but creating lifelong memories for people is absolutely the best thing I think I could ever do. For newcomers to the industry, finding a mentor to guide you is critical for your early success, while recognizing there is always more to learn will give you longevity in the business. Even after 40 years in the industry, I’m still learning new things every day and love it.
