Blowing Minds Since 2009

TV Host, Podcaster, Business Relationship Director … Rose Gray wears many hats. But before she established her longstanding career at Fox World Travel, her professional journey began as many of ours do: on an uncertain career path, searching for her passion.

“I actually have a degree in, believe it or not, elementary education,” said Gray. “I taught school for 7th and 8th-grade science and math for a couple of years before I realized I made a bad career choice.” One move to Colorado and some odd jobs later, travel was at the top of Gray’s radar. “From that point on I just was thinking, ‘How can I parley my love of travel into a career?’” It wasn’t long after she walked into her local travel agency and said, “I’d be really good at this. You should hire me.” And shockingly, Gray said, they did.

Now, over 35 years and many adventures later, Gray specializes in groups. It’s her perfect fit.

Rose, Where Do You Want To Go?

While Gray adores her role today, she met the early days with hesitation. “In 2009, my then-boss said, ‘I think you should take a WTMJ listener trip to Alaska,” said Gray. “And I said, ‘I think that’s a horrible idea because I want to take a listener trip, but I don’t want to go to Alaska.’” Her boss retorted, “I beg your pardon? I wasn’t really asking you. I was telling you you’re taking a WTMJ listener trip to Alaska.” While she accepted her fate, Gray still hadn’t warmed up to The Great North. “(My co-worker) literally had to drag me on the plane kicking and screaming,” she said. “I don’t know if I thought it was going to be buggy or dirty or rustic … I don’t know why but I didn’t want to go there.” However, upon landing in Alaska she fell in love, and she’s since visited 13 times.

By Gray’s third time hosting a WTMJ listener trip, she was ready for more. “I said to the person Fox was sending along, ‘I could do this,’” said Gray. “I don’t know why we have to spend the money to send somebody to be the tour manager and take care of the operations. I’ve been in this so long. I see what you do; I know what you do; I believe I can do both jobs.” And so, that’s what she did, and soon, Fox stopped hosting listener trips and instead started asking, “Rose, where do you want to go?”

Within the Structure Lies the Freedom

When done right, group travel is the gift that keeps on giving — for advisors and travelers. Gray noted big trips, like those to Alaska, are the perfect way for inexperienced travelers to get their feet wet. And often, those same travelers are pleasantly surprised by the experience. “My quote when we talk about selling groups is, ‘within the structure lies the freedom,’” said Gray. “We’ve structured this all for you; you don’t have to do planes, trains and automobiles.” Do it right, and groups generate repeat customers. “What ends up happening is either, they continue with us in the groups department, which is great, (or it’s) ‘what else have you got, Rose?’”

Don’t Get Burned

As an expert in the niche, Gray shared her advice for advisors looking to book more group travel, first and foremost emphasizing the importance of understanding the contractual component of the gig. “I’ve talked to so many people that got into it and got burned because a deadline came and went, they didn’t reduce their numbers and they got penalized,” said Gray. “It breaks my heart they didn’t think that through as much as they should have or investigate the contact as much as they should have.”

Another key component? Vetting and knowing your vendors. “Have a variety of vendors, but your portfolio should be pretty small,” said Gray. “And make sure you vet those tour operators. If you just randomly pick somebody and haven’t worked with them before, I think that’s a recipe for disaster because you don’t know how they operate.”

Gray acknowledges group travel can be intimidating. “There are some travel advisors I’ve spoken to that said, ‘I wouldn’t touch a group with a 10-foot pole,’” she said. But Gray wouldn’t trade it for the world. “I enjoy it thoroughly. I love meeting these people; I love taking them. People say to me, ‘Why do you go to Alaska over and over again?’ and I tell them this: ‘It’s like taking grown-ups to Disney World; they’re blown away by everything; everything blows their minds.’ I just love standing back and watching people’s minds be blown.”