I am born and raised in Chilliwack, B.C. I have been in the travel industry since 1998. Travelling around B.C. and Alberta as a child with our family, lots of camping, fishing trips, I loved being outdoors. My first trip with my family was Disneyland on a bus tour (with the same company I work for coincidently) and as a teen travelling to England with Wardair. I recall being beyond excited to see Scotland as I played the pipes and wanted to see everything Scottish. Later as I could afford to travel more, I started doing a few all inclusive packages and cruises.
I had cruised once with my mother when I was in my late 30’s and it was so fun. Saw an ad in the local paper from a new agency in town saying ‘Do you like to cruise? Come talk to us.’ So I did. They hired me right then. It was strictly on commission but that was okay as I had a well paying full time job at the time. I worked Saturdays learning as much as I could, attending trade shows/talks ,etc. Within a year I was too busy for both jobs so quit my boring office job and started selling cruises full time. After a few years I ran into a high school friend who had an agency in town and was looking for agents. This was my chance to work in a full service agency and I jumped at the opportunity. I had a good cruise background to share with my new co-workers and they had all aspects of travel to teach me— I was pretty green when it came to everything but cruising. Roblin Travel has been servicing clients since 1947, such a legacy. I have worked with some amazing agents over my years with Roblin.
Everything and more. It’s been like a rollercoaster ride throughout the years, always fun and exciting with a few screams here and there. I love it and have no regrets. I couldn’t imagine any other career. We’re a special breed.
This has really evolved over the years. At first I just loved the excitement of the job, it wasn’t boring. As years pass we build relationships with clients, some are now great friends I hang out with, go for lunch with, travel with, others you’re just always happy to see year-after-year to help them plan their vacation, knowing their wants and expectations. It is very rewarding, clients are happy, I’m happy.
I don’t know that there is one anymore. Years ago it was spending hours and hours on vacations, just to find out they had changed their mind about travelling, booked online, etc. That doesn’t happen anymore as I only service past clients… Flights, nothing fun about booking flights if you ask me.
Listen to what clients expectations are for their vacation, qualify them and try to fill that. Sell insurance always. Do webinars, every tour/cruise operator has them and you learn so much from them. And travel.
Yes, I believe so. I find more people are doing multiple trips per year and spending more money on vacations.
I don’t take on many new clients unless it is in our group travel so I find my clients are just comfortable letting me look after their vacations. Also from all the things that can affect travel in the world, who wouldn’t want an agent that has their back when things go sideways?
My clients are aging with me, and I have a great group of friends that like to travel. So I spin the globe, pick a destination and put it out to my clients, friends, and friends of friends. I’ve really shifted my focus onto group travel, adventuring to all corners of the world. It’s been amazing.
I have been so fortunate to have travelled to many destinations, I share that excitement and knowledge to younger clients and they are now going and sharing with their friends. Networking is the absolute best.
So many, like reaching the sun gate of Machu Picchu after trekking through the Andes for four days, walking up the stairs from the train line and looking directly at the Roman Colosseum, my mom and I going for a dip in the Aegean sea with our taxi driver after seeing Ephesus (he was the sweetest little man), my first safari and turning a corner and there is a giraffe right in front of us, so many as Oprah says ‘aha moments.’ For me, travel is an experience of many emotions, it’s seeing how other people live, how they have fun, what they eat, what they wear. Being part of this industry has meant the world to me and I will forever be grateful that this was my career.
A world cruise for $120k… and then they ended up cancelling. Many years ago our office had a group of 450, I had booked 275 of this group cruise, it was a million dollar group for our cruise office at the time and we were just learning what email was. Everything done by snail mail. It was a lot of work.
Absolutely, we have been charging fees for at least ten years, it was a little hard at first but not anymore. Some clients even say that’s all you want?
My plan after Covid was not to go back into the office, it was way too busy, I turned 60 and thought it a good time to maybe slow down some, work from home, just service my past clients. That worked for a while, then I rediscovered group travel, so rewarding and fun. I’m now way busier than I had planned but that’s okay. I’m seeing the world again and taking friends and clients with me. A friend that travelled with our group to Italy this past October sent me a message the other day thanking me for all I do to get people to see the world! Wow, really, it’s my pleasure. I will be hitting seven countries by the end of 2024. I am truly blessed.
