My History in the Travel Business:
I have been in the travel industry since 1988. Over the years, I enjoyed combining teaching school and selling travel. Having retired from 33 years of teaching in the area of preschool handicapped, I now ...
My History in the Travel Business:
I have been in the travel industry since 1988. Over the years, I enjoyed combining teaching school and selling travel. Having retired from 33 years of teaching in the area of preschool handicapped, I now devote my retirement to travel for my clients, my agents and myself.
Over the years my goal was to establish an agency that would sell the world. Covid-19 and IRS guidelines for Independent Contractors put the brakes on the hosting of agents. Age has also put the brakes on what I sell.
Even though I want to sell the world, one person cannot have that much detailed knowledge. My area of personal expertise is the Sandals and Beaches Luxury Resorts in the Caribbean. I can boast that I have visited the Sandals and Beaches properties over 150 times. Every 3 years I make a personal goal of revising each of the 17 Sandals properties and 3 Beaches properties. As of 2023, I'm on target.
My greatest award in travel came in December 2018. I was honored by Sandals Resorts in the Caribbean with a trophy at the STAR awards event in Jamaica. My name was called and I walked in front of 500 travel agents to receive the "Lifetime Achievement Award". What an honor to be recognized by my preferred supplier, Thank you Sandals!
Over the years, little milestones bring memories and expertise to the Sandals brand as well as the world.
In December 2014 at the STAR Awards ceremony, I was award the Chairman's Outstanding Sales Achievement Award Southeast in the Regional awards. What an honor.
In December 2017 I was invited and attended Sandals 2017 STAR's award event for outstanding Travel Agents. The event was held at Beaches Turks and Caicos.
In May 2017 I attended Travel Leaders National Conference in Orlando FL. As a result I made major changes at the agency. Our website was updated as was our invoicing software. I was also motivated to start monthly events for consumers. In January 2018, I launched "Travel Talks" for consumers. Each month a new vendor would come to the agency to meet with consumers. Consumers could talk directly with vendor representatives asking questions, seek advise, and explore options.
In June 2019 I traveled to Jamaica to Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals South Coast for my 5 year Sandals Weddingmoon recertification. I also made a commitment to become a Travel Leaders Destination Wedding Specialist. I'm still a Sandals Weddingmoon specialist with 2022 re certification. If you are thinking of a destination wedding, please call me to see why a Sandals Destination Wedding is an stress free event to remember for the rest of your lives.
Personally, I do love to travel. The most extensive journey was 34 days at sea on Celebrity Solstice as a Distinctive Voyages Host for the back to back sailings around New Zealand and Australia. What a personal experience for me and a joy to represent Travel Leaders's Distinctive Voyages program. I then traveled on to China for 2 weeks to visit a niece before returning to the USA. I traveled first class on each leg of my long journey.
I'm constantly traveling to new destinations and working with preferred vendors in order to broaden my mind for options for clients. In 2022, I sailed to Alaska with Holland for a 14 day cruise from Vancouver to Vancouver exploring the entire coast line of Alaska. I have sailed Alaska on Royal Caribbean, Regent Seven Seas, Princess, Norwegian, and Carnival. I'm ready to return on my 6th exploration to Alaska.
Currently, for clients who want to explore the world, I refer clients to my co-owner, Christine Landes. She also has her own travel agency, Ash Hollow Travel. Christine is also training Independent Contractors who comply with IRS guidelines.
What a busy retirement! Give me a call. 540-662-6279 opt 1. I work by private appointment either in person or by phone or zoom. I want to personally get to know my clients and understand their travel dreams to Sandals. I'm the local "Sandals' Lady" as one local competitor agent calls me.