I live in Central Alberta with my very supportive husband of 33 years. We have two beautiful daughters who have blessed us with three wonderful grandchildren. Through the years I have had a few different careers from running an internet marketing business to serving as an executive administrative assistant in healthcare and a role as a program coordinator for a non-profit organization that provided management of logistics for training throughout North America. In 2018, I made the leap into the travel industry.
I was looking for something that allowed for more freedom with time and travel for myself and my husband. Part of my experience as an executive administrative assistant involved handling travel arrangements for various staff members and these were parts of the job that I loved to do. They say you should always do more of what you love. I have found building an agency takes a lot of hours, not only in learning and investing in yourself, but also in attracting, engaging and keeping clients. The hours are long and involve a true dedication, but I would not trade it for anything.
My slogan, ‘from dream to destination,’ captures what I love most about this job. I have the privilege of helping clients with their dream vacation by turning it into a real experience. Once they return home and they share their photos, or the experiences they loved, this to me is the reward for a job done well. There is nothing more rewarding than hearing from an excited client when they return.
Work/life balance. Balancing the managing of travel experiences for clients with taking time for your family and yourself can be challenging. This part of the job demands constant attention and flexibility, making it harder to switch off and fully relax.
Thriving in this industry is all about finding your passion in travel. Find out what you love in the industry as this sparks your creativeness and brings a deeper satisfaction for what you do. But it also helps maintain your sanity within the business schedules.
The trend of “revenge travel” I believe is fading and we are now seeing a shift in their priorities. People place more value on taking time to relax and seeking out unique experiences. It’s about creating memorable trips and to experience the world in more authentic ways, not about just leaving for the sake of leaving.
I think the pandemic has shown the value of a travel advisor especially when it comes to peace of mind. Planning a trip can be time consuming so more people are turning to travel advisors to save time, receive personalized service and custom-tailored experiences.
The majority of my clients are ages 40-75 and are looking for unique experiences in a variety of destinations. I do have quite a few destination weddings that I manage each year, these tend to be the younger client demographic. Many of the guests would not have used the services of an advisor prior to the group wedding as they preferred to do it on their own. After experiencing how an advisor works and the group travel, the younger guests seem to continue to seek out an advisor for future travel needs as they were able to experience first hand what we do.
One of my standout travel memories is attending the inaugural GX Summit in Peru last year, where I had the incredible opportunity to experience community tourism firsthand. It was an amazing experience, getting to immerse myself in the local culture, meet so many people, and see how tourism can positively impact a community. To me, travel is about immersing in new cultures, meeting new people and to experience the beauty around us.
A South African honeymoon over a period of 42 days that included the most amazing unique experiences
Professional fees have their place in the travel industry, as time spent should be rewarded. I currently charge professional fees for airline only bookings to compensate for the time involved with managing the booking. I also charge a small professional fee for destination wedding guests at time of deposit to assist with possible changes/cancellations either individually or as a group as a whole.
A must for anyone in this business is to invest in yourself and your business. Whether this means attending conferences, supplier webinars or attending FAMs. The relationships you build and knowledge you gain during these experiences are invaluable. It allows you to stay informed about the latest trends, hidden gems and best practices in the travel industry. This ensures you can offer your clients not just vacations but memorable experiences.
