The priceless value of a travel advisor has never resonated more throughout the travel community, as advisors have overcome challenge after challenge during the COVID-19 crisis.
At TravelAge West, we’re in complete awe of our travel advisor readers — especially for their fierce dedication and tireless work ethic. In the last few weeks, they’ve brought their clients safely back home; secured refunds and future credits; adapted or salvaged trips for the unforeseen future; and so much more.
Simply put: It’s a trying period for travel advisors, so we asked several advisors to share why they love their profession — even in times like these.
We hope that the following perspectives serve as a reminder of why you do what you do every day. Eventually, tourism will be on the upswing, and we are confident that advisors will be ready for its return.
Donna Alkarmi, president of Lone Star Travel in McKinney, Texas
Number of years as a travel advisor: 24 years
“You don't become a travel advisor because you have a laptop at home and sign a contract with some company. Being a travel advisor is hard work; it consists of long hours, multiple courses to learn the countries you want to specialize in and seminars to attend. Even during this trying time, I would not want to do anything else; travel makes us gain patience, wisdom, perspective, appreciation and forever relationships.”
Chelsea Martin, luxury travel advisor at Full-Time Travel, an affiliate of Embark Beyond Travel, in New York City
Number of years as a travel advisor: four years
“I love being a travel advisor because of the human connection — from getting to know my clients’ deepest dreams and desires; to the relationships I have with hoteliers and travel partners all over the world; to the colleagues from various agencies I interact with daily in a collaborative and noncompetitive fashion.
We have one another’s backs in all these relationships, and we work together toward a collective goal: to provide our clients with an unforgettable and enriching travel experience. And we have fun while doing it! I am already seeing these relationships strengthen during the COVID-19 crisis as we continue to support each other on all ends of the travel advising spectrum.”
We all work together toward a collective goal: to provide our clients with an unforgettable and enriching travel experience. I am already seeing these relationships strengthen during COVID-19 as we continue to support each other on all ends of the travel advising spectrum.
Cindy Andersen, owner of Blue Shore Vacations in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Number of years as a travel advisor: 10 years
“What I love is knowing that I have listened to my clients and have crafted their vacations in such ways that will blow their socks off. I can almost hear their kids meeting their favorite characters and walking into Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge to make their very own lightsaber, and I so look forward to the pictures they send me, because I can see the joy.
And each family’s joy is why I love what I do. Without me working so hard, they would go, but they would miss out on so much — I give the pixie dust they didn’t even know existed. And I know they’ll have it for the rest of their lives. That’s it right there.”
Lynda Turley, travel advisor and owner of Turley Travel Group in Saratoga, Calif.
Number of years as a travel advisor: 40 years
“It honestly still gives me a high when clients come back and said it was the best trip of their life. Or, they had the best guide ever, or the hotel treated them like VIPs. Or, they got to spend the quality time with their family that they were dreaming about.
I love it — I’m not trained for anything else, other than customer service. I’ve had a lot of customer service training over the years, some by mentors and some by professional means. Customer service is the best training that I would recommend for new advisors. You use it every day, particularly now. I really do worry more about my clients’ vacations than they do.
I’ve survived and thrived through Desert Storm, 9/11 and the 2008 financial crisis. I’m not going anywhere. Helping clients with their travel plans is still my passion. I’ve never worked harder in my life than these last two months for zero commission — but emails of support from my clients make it all worthwhile.”
Melissa Varela, president of Modern Romance Travel in Danville, Calif.
Number of years as a travel advisor: Six years
“After graduating with a degree in molecular cell biology, I became a scientist. I went back to school to earn an MBA, and became a pharmaceutical and medical device sales account manager. With five years of sales under my belt, I moved into marketing.
Finally, I decided to follow my passion and journeyed into travel: I bought a cruise franchise since I had zero experience in the travel industry. After two years, I launched my own company, Modern Romance Travel, which focuses on destination weddings and honeymoons.
Since I was also starting my own family, it was important for me to have a career where I could work from home, be my own boss, earn a good living and travel the world. I also wanted a profession that was rewarding and fun and could span decades.
Now, more than ever, people value service. Our industry exemplifies personal connections and true hospitality. We provide advice, access, advocacy and accountability to our clients. This combination is impossible to find online. We are there for our clients from the moment they reach out to us until they come home safely.
The travel industry is resilient. We have been through diseases, natural disasters and 9/11, and we have bounced back.”
Now, more than ever, people value service. Our industry exemplifies personal connections and true hospitality. We provide advice, access, advocacy and accountability to our clients. This combination is impossible to find online. We are there for our clients from the moment they reach out to us until they come home safely.
Andrea Kreps, travel advisor at Ethnosphere Travel in Covina, Calif.
Number of years as a travel advisor: Three years
“For me, travel is beyond a vacation, it is a life experience that can help you redefine who you are, and it can change your life. I became a travel advisor because I wanted to share this way of thinking and this passion with the world.
Helping people’s dreams come true — and helping them experience the world — is a dream come true for me. There is no greater reward than seeing someone return from a trip with a different view of the world; with their hearts fulfilled by the wonder of the world; or with a new skill they learned while on a trip, discovering abilities they didn’t know they had. For me, that is invaluable, and that is why I love my job so much and pour my heart into every itinerary I create.”
Yaritza Maldonado, founder and lead travel advisor at Luxe & Chic Travel in Orlando, Fla.
Number of years as a travel advisor: Two years
“It’s a dream to inspire and create unforgettable travel memories. I’m privileged to be a part of an industry where I can combine my passion of travel with my passion to help people.
Growing up, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to travel across the country and the globe. Bitten by the wanderlust bug, I realized my happiest moments always start on a plane at 35,000 feet in the air, en route to experience a beautiful new destination.
I also recognized that helping people take their dream vacations, tell their story and feel blissful is my lifelong mission. The way I see it, each trip is an adventure, an experience gained and a memory that deepens your personal story. This is why I’m passionate about being a trusted travel advisor. I have so much fun getting to know my clients and designing amazingly unforgettable experiences for them.
Though travel can sometimes be stressful, notably when unexpected events such as the COVID-19 pandemic occur, we’ve become our client’s biggest advocate. I work around the clock to manage any issues that arise and do it as seamlessly as possible. These are the shining moments, where I help my clients make confident decisions and, in turn, save their vacation.
Being a travel advisor is not just about assisting with travel journeys; it’s about human connection, storytelling and making people happy.”
Beci Mahnken, founder and CEO of MEI Travel in Sammamish, Wash.
Number of years as a travel advisor: 20 years
“I get my love for travel from my father, who taught me early on that travel was key to understanding the world we live in, but also a way to bring people and families together. We are all so preoccupied with daily life that vacations are a great way to get away from the daily grind and reconnect with those who are important to us.
With that in mind, I bought my first agency eight days after the 9/11 attacks with the hope of helping people find joy again. Over the last 20 years, I’m proud to say I’ve been able to accomplish that goal, as well as bring others into the industry and teach them the craft — paying the joy forward.
I get my love for travel from my father, who taught me early on that travel was key to understanding the world we live in, but also a way to bring people and families together. With that in mind, I bought my first agency eight days after the 9/11 attacks with the hope of helping people find joy again.
People need to experience places of reflection, history, relaxation and happiness, which gives me faith that the travel industry will not only survive, but thrive. Especially after weeks of being quarantined, we will all be ready for a little time away.”
Leslie Wahlgren, travel advisor at Plaza Travel in Woodland Hills, Calif.
Number of years as a travel advisor: 16 years
“As a travel advisor, I love the planning process. It is one of the most exciting and creative components in designing a custom trip. It's listening to dreams and wishes, and making them a reality, while adding life-changing experiences they never thought possible. It's providing those ‘aha’ moments all throughout the journey.”
Brianna Glenn, owner and lead travel designer at Milk and Honey Travels in Orange County, Calif.
Number of years as a travel advisor: Five years
“I love being a travel advisor because it allows me to share one of my deepest passions with others by helping their own travel dreams be realized. I get to play a part in creating some of the very best memories in people's lives.
What we do allows our clients to see more of the world in a way that lights them up. In addition, they can experience different cultures, which ultimately helps us all realize what we have in common as human beings. Travel is the gift that keeps on giving, and I believe that it is one of the gifts that people will appreciate more than ever once the world opens up again. And I can't wait to be a part of that.”
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Rob Karp, founder of MilesAhead in New York City
Number of years as a travel advisor: Eight years
“Since I was a child, I loved airlines. Over time, that passion evolved into a love for hospitality, and seeing how the different players (airlines, hotels, restaurants, people) come together to create special experiences.
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As the world of travel comes to an unfamiliar halt, we wanted to take this time to share some of our team members' fondest travel memories with some of the suppliers we love working with. We are all in this together, in good times and in bad, so here's to looking back on some of the good times, which we will see again in the not-so-distant future. —— Italy holds a special place in AJ's heart: from celebrating his cousin's wedding in Amalfi in 2016 to studying in Siena for four months in 2018, he has traveled all over the country, and Positano, specifically the Il San Pietro hotel, is one of his all-time favorite spots. The Il San Pietro Hotel is no stranger to those who have traveled to Positano; it's routinely awarded the highest ratings and considered to be one of the best hotels in Europe by Travel + Leisure. From the spectacular views to the private beach to the tennis court built into the side of a cliff, it's easy to see why. But what really sets this hotel apart from the rest is its team; they are the ones that create the soul of the hotel. Sales Director, and long-time MA friend, Agostino Piccolo, helps make the magic happen for our clients from booking to arrival to departure. Our thoughts are with Ago and the rest of the San Pietro team during this crisis. We are with you, and we can't wait to work with you again soon. #milesaheadcares
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As a travel advisor, we have the opportunity to create, to be entrepreneurial and to do it alongside exceptional people — whether it’s a hotelier, a colleague or a client-turned-friend. Especially in the turbulent times of COVID-19, I’m grateful to have colleagues and friends around the globe who I wouldn’t know if it wasn’t for this profession.”
Heather Christopher, owner of Heather Christopher Travel Consulting, co-owner of Travel Pro Theory and co-founder of Wanderlust Wedding Co. in Gettysburg, Penn.
Number of years as a travel advisor: 14 years
“Being a travel advisor is all I've known. Even amid this pandemic, I can't think of anything else I'd rather do. I'm a travel advisor because it connects me to people and allows me to connect people to each other.”
Denise Schaefer, travel advisor at Plaza Travel in Woodland Hills, Calif.
Number of years as a travel advisor: 41 years
“Family adventures from a young age led me to the path of the travel industry, and I knew it was where I belonged. Despite the climate we’re in right now, I believe travel will come back with a vengeance and be stronger than before. People who have a passion for travel won’t let this hold them back, and the challenges we currently face will decrease over time.
I do what I do because it brings me joy to fulfill someone’s dreams, and I’ll continue to love this business through all its ups and downs.”
I do what I do because it brings me joy to fulfill someone’s dreams, and I’ll continue to love this business through all its ups and downs.
Julie Banning, luxury travel advisor at Embark Beyond Travel in New York City
Number of years as a travel advisor: Three years
“Working as a travel advisor allows me the opportunity to connect with incredible people all over the world and every day presents a new challenge. We are seeing more than ever that we are social creatures, and we crave human interaction. I believe we will persevere because the world wants to be together.”
Joey Levy, luxury travel advisor at Embark Beyond Travel in New York City
Number of years as a travel advisor: Five years
“Being a travel advisor allows me to share my love of travel with my clients. I live vicariously through every trip I plan. Although the landscape may different when this is all over, I feel it would be impossible to hold people back from traveling, as it is in people’s nature to explore.”
Amanda Ervin, co-owner of The Chubby and Away Travel Agency in Dallas, Texas
Number of years as a travel advisor: Less than a year
“I became a travel agent because I wanted to share my passion of travel with others. I also am excited to plan group trips with our YouTube channel, Chubby and Away, and travel with our wonderful viewers. Travel has changed my life and allowed me to see some incredible things and meet amazing people. I’ve tried delicious food, and I’ve learned to cook fabulous new dishes that I can share with friends and family. If I can help someone else plan a trip that could impact their life in that same way, then what job could be better than that?
The state of travel right now is only temporary. We will bounce back, and when we do, I will be one of the first people on a plane. There is so much more of the world to see and more people out there to meet.”
Read more from TravelAge West about the COVID-19 outbreak.
