About five years ago, I created a vision for a new garden I wanted in my yard. It involved clearing out a few trees, bringing in soil, creating a path with mulch and stones, dividing and replanting an endless amount of hostas and lots of help from my family.
I remember thinking I just couldn’t wait until it was an established garden, but what I didn’t realize is that the journey would be the most important part. Throughout the years, I’ve learned how to care for a variety of perennials and tend to annuals each season. The satisfaction came from the experience of building the garden and knowing there’s always going to be more to do – similar to my career in the travel industry.
I began working in the travel industry in 2014 as a travel advisor at a local, storefront agency. Much like the start of my garden, I remember being eager to know everything I had to know and have my clientele built and established.
However, those early days of my career as an advisor were crucial to my journey. I soaked up knowledge from the veteran advisors I was surrounded by, attended any educational opportunity I could and fell more in love with the job each day. I soon realized there are no two days the same in the life of a travel advisor, and that’s what keeps it exciting. One day you’re creating a dream honeymoon for a couple, and the next you’re rebooking a family of five after an unexpected flight cancelation.
With an English degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, I always felt a tug towards writing and soon found myself transitioning to the media side of the industry as an editor. I took with me all the behind the scenes experience I had gained during my years working as an agent.
Five years later, I’m introducing myself to you here, as managing editor of The Compass. I have a passion for creating valuable content for travel advisors, and I aim to grow meaningful relationships with all types of travel companies, from cruise lines and hotels to CVBs and airlines, in order to share their unique messages with the travel agency community.
When I first stumbled across that travel agent job listing, I have to admit I wasn’t entirely familiar with advisors and wasn’t sure if working with a travel agent “was still a thing.” I couldn’t have been more naïve, because I soon learned that travel agents are not only “a thing,” but they are a thriving community. The travel industry is resilient, and travel advisors are becoming more in demand than they’ve ever been.
My mission will always be to advocate for the travel agent community, and I look forward to all the ways I can do so at The Compass.
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