Can you tell us a little about yourself and how long you’ve been in the industry?
I’m a mom to two children, both now young adults. I’ve been married for 21 years. I enjoy spending my time finding adventures with my family, even if it’s exploring within our local city. I’ve been in the industry for 27 years, and 20 with the same company.
What do you specialize in and why?
I specialize in group travel, with a focus on wedding groups. I started into this field out of a personal need, as I helped family members plan group trips. I discovered a genuine passion for organizing and coordinating groups. Additionally, I enjoy working with clients who seek unique and off-the-beaten-path experiences. This style of travel resonates with me, and I find it rewarding to help others discover hidden gems.
I recently read a study that women above the age of 50 will drive $746 billion in travel spending by 2035 – coming in right after millennials. Does that align with your clientele?
A significant portion of my clientele aligns with this demographic. The majority of my clients are between the ages of 40 and 65. However, I am also beginning to work with the next generation—children of my existing clients—who are eager to start planning their own travel. Naturally, their parents trust me to handle the travel arrangements for their children as well.
Are you noticing any interesting trends from the bookings you have? Are your clients still travelling to the U.S. with the ongoing tariffs?
Many of my clients are hesitant to plan trips to destinations where the U.S. dollar is used, primarily due to concerns over the exchange rates with the Canadian dollar. While some clients are specifically avoiding the U.S., the most are more focused on avoiding destinations where the value of the U.S. dollar significantly impacts the exchange rate.
What’s your biggest piece of advice for travel advisors right now?
Know your worth. We are professionals, and we are experts in our field. Travel is not seamless, so know that our expertise and resources are very valuable.
Tell us a little bit about a booking that stands out – whether it’s the most expensive, the longest, the most adventurous, etc.
A booking that stands out for me is the planning of my own family’s SE Asia adventure. We planned a three-week adventure with our children that took in some of the most amazing sights, and cultures. My children experienced food and cultures they had never seen before. I loved sharing this with them. Everyone loved the experience and has life long memories from it.
What are your thoughts on FAM trips? Are they valuable? Why? Do they help you sell more? How can they be improved?
I love FAM trips. They are a great source for information. And a great perk to our jobs. Not only do they help you get to know a destination or resort, but they also allow you to network with other agents and develop a relationship with your BDM. And your BDM is such a great resource that the public doesn’t have access to. I wish there were more of them. That would be the biggest improvement.
What’s the biggest challenge you are facing in the travel industry right now? What do you think can be done to help it?
One of the biggest challenges is finding and keeping good agents. The world is such a volatile place for travel, and so many things are beyond our control. It makes the job more involved and stressful than new agents realize. I wish there was more training available to new agents. More training support from organizations like ACTA and IATA would be a great start.
Do you have anything to add?
I work with some incredible agents, and they make the stressful days much more manageable. I wouldn’t be as successful without them.
Nominator:
“I am nominating Rachelle Davis as she goes above and beyond for all her clients. She has been in the industry for over 25 years and always comes to work with a smile and phenomenal attitude. She is currently mentoring one of our new hires (six months ago) and is always eager to aid and assist. She has an incredible memory and really is a brainiac. She is always willing to answer all our questions. She is the manager of the office and makes sure it runs smoothly and efficiently at all times. We were presented with a Bravo award last year, a feat in its own. With her encouragement and patience we accomplished this as a team. She was also nominated for an individual Bravo award and just missed out on this incredible award, placed 11th and top 10 were recognized in Canada. Again, we all supported her through this amazing accomplishment even though she just fell short. It’s a pleasure to work with someone who is so knowledgeable and fun to be with everyday even though it has been tough for all travel agents from Covid to strikes, etc. Rachelle also volunteers endless hours at the hockey rink and when her daughter was in dance, also at the dance academy. She has also been part of her kids’ school activities and volunteers many hours at the school from helping with lunch programs and grad festivities. Her son (last child) graduates this year, and I know there will be a void in all of her volunteering hours. But you know what, she will find another activity to help and volunteer because that is the kind person she is! I love working with Rachelle and all the agents at Marlin Travel in Kamloops, it is the best job in the world! She is so deserving of this award, I highly recommend you choose her.
