Tell us a little about yourself and how long you’ve been in the industry?
I retired five years ago from Canada Post. Having a career for over 30 years with the company. After retiring and travelling quite a bit more than ever, I realized I had a strong passion for travel and that is when I decided to pursue a career as a travel advisor. For years I was the go-to person for organizing trips for my friends, family and our annual girl’s trips! I loved to research the destinations and find the best deals and experiences.
I had been searching for a host agency to join, and I found Onvigo. I was extremely impressed with their program. I signed up for the new advisor training, graduated the end of July 2024.Since becoming a new travel advisor, I am proud to say that I achieved a top 5 sales ranking in the company by the end of the year! It was an accomplishment for me as I was starting from scratch in an industry that was new to me. I could not have had such success without the amazing support from the entire team at Onvigo. The training they provided to me was excellent, there is continual education and webinars as well as one on one coaching at any time if needed. It is a community I am proud to be a part of.
What did you specialize in and why?
As far as specializing I am booking lots of cruises for my clients as well as many other types of vacations. I have not yet found my specialty, but my future goal is to get into the luxury travel industry and wellness experiences.
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?
For the study that you had read about women over 50 driving the travel spending… most of my clients are over 50 actually. They are in the stage of their life where they have more disposable income, they are empty nesters and seeking more international trips and luxury vacations. I have also noticed many women focusing on wellness vacations, yoga retreats and wanting travel experiences. I have seen quite a bit of interest in women travelling solo and wanting to be part of women-only group trips.
Are you noticing any interesting trends from the bookings you have? Are your clients still travelling to the U.S. with the ongoing tariffs?
As far as trends, I did mention above, I have seen an interest in wellness focused travel and fitness holidays. I am also seeing quite a bit of interest in lavish experiences like private villas, yacht charters, which leads me to my future goal of getting into the luxury travel industry. Since the tariffs I have not had any interest from clients booking US travel. I live in a border city and travelling across the border to Michigan used to be a routine weekend away for many of us. That has slowed down significantly.
What’s your biggest piece of advice for travel advisors right now?
My biggest piece of advice for travel advisors would be to listen to your clients’ needs and always go the extra mile to create the most memorable experiences for them. I have also been trying to stay on top of new destinations and trends so I can offer suggestions to my clients.
Tell us a little bit about a booking that stands out – whether it’s the most expensive, the longest, the most adventurous, etc.
For a booking that stands out recently I booked a group of 12 to Europe for a 55th birthday celebration. It was my most lucrative booking as they were looking for a luxury trip including a private yacht sailing and special experiences such as private tours with fine dining. It reinforced my ability to handle high end travel arrangements as well as ensuring my clients have a very memorable experience.
What are your thoughts on FAM trips? Are they valuable? Why? Do they help you sell more? How can they be improved?
I have only been on one so far. Our first ever FAM trip with Onvigo was in August 2024 and yes it was so worth it. I did social media posts constantly while I was away in Mexico on the FAM and when I returned from the trip, I immediately sold three different vacation packages to the resorts we had stayed at and toured. I was able to make recommendations based on my actual experiences. I am hoping to go on more FAMs in the future. For improvement on a FAM, I would like some more time to experience the destination, with back-to-back resort tours your days are quite full leaving very little time to explore. I would like a balance of site visits and free time on my next FAM.
What’s the biggest challenge you are facing in the travel industry right now? What do you think can be done to help it?
Biggest challenge in travel industry is the rising costs and of course the economic uncertainty. The inflation is making travelers become more price sensitive. As a travel advisor, we have to work harder to find value options for clients all while delivering quality travel experiences.
Is there anything you’d like to add?
I am honoured to be featured in Travel Courier and Canadian Travel Press. Thank you for the opportunity to share my passion for travel. I am looking forward to continuing to inspire and grow in this amazing industry.
Nominator:
“Wendy joined the Onvigo in the spring of 2024. Wendy’s dedication to harnessing her passion for travel and becoming an independent advisor deserves recognition. Here’s why we believe she stands out: Since embarking on her journey as an Independent Travel Advisor, Wendy has established a remarkable online persona that effectively represents both her qualifications and her passion for travel. Her digital footprint effectively outlines her professional skills but truly serves as inspirational content that engages and educates her followers. Her authentic approach to describing travel opportunities builds trust and credibility with clients. Wendy chooses inventive methods to promote her services, from leveraging the power of social media to contributing articles on travel experiences to local publications. She leverages her passion to network her travel business and build business opportunities. Her marketing initiatives are both engaging and effective, keeping interest high and leads coming in.
Wendy exemplifies the values of support and community. Her collaborative spirit, paired with an unwavering dedication to her clients, sets her apart. Her determination has seen her build a flourishing business in diverse travel niches. Since hitting the ground running, Wendy has demonstrated her passion for the industry, dedicated time for continuous learning and grown a considerable client book of business. Further embracing opportunities, Wendy took her first FAM experience in August of 2024 and provided immense value to the FAM Sponsor by winning the booking incentive challenge post FAM.
Wendy’s commitment to the travel advisor community does not go unnoticed. Her willingness to support her peers and to share her insights and resources has made her a go-to member in the Onvigo network.
Wendy consistently goes above and beyond for the travel industry. Her attendance at industry events, her eagerness to learn through supplier trainings, and her openness to forging relationships with new vendors demonstrate her investment in not just her personal success, but the betterment of the entire travel trade.
As an avid golfer, Wendy has uniquely positioned herself to excel in curating specialized group travel experiences. Soon after graduating from Onvigo’s intensive two-week training program, Wendy took the initiative to leverage her network and passion for charity by organizing and sponsoring a charity golf event. This initiative not only supported a meaningful cause but also served as a strategic way to drive awareness of her new travel business, further establishing her presence in the industry. Her love for the sport translates into precisely planned, custom-tailored golfing trips that showcase her ability to fuse personal interests with professional service, resulting in exceptional, memory-making journeys for her clients.
In summary, Wendy Hart is the embodiment of what the travel industry aspires for in a modern advisor: knowledgeable, proactive, client-centric, and a true advocate for the collective success of the travel community.”
Joey Chau, Marketing Lead, ONVIGO
