I Became a Travel Agent a Few Months Before the World Shutdown

Yep. You read that right.

I was having a slow burnout from an almost 20-year career in advertising, graphic design, and digital marketing. An opportunity to become a part-time travel agent with Airplanes and Adventures Travel presented itself in November 2019 and I took it. Before I knew it, I had everything set up and ready to go, along with several bookings in a short amount of time. It was just what I needed.

[cue: sunshine and butterflies and beautiful music as I frolick through a field of wildflowers]

Enter stage-right: “Hello, my name is COVID-19.”

[cue: record scratching as beautiful music comes to a halt, thunderclouds appear overhead, wildflowers wilt and butterflies scatter.]

Starting in March 2020, I received a crash course in supplier terms and conditions, cancellation policies, the importance of travel insurance, and patience for sitting on hold for hours and hours with airlines and suppliers while trying to cancel or rebook my clients’ vacations with as few penalties and fees as possible. Oh and even more patience while sitting on hold with suppliers to follow up on refunds clients were supposed to receive. Everyone was scared and frustrated.

Then it was (and still is) navigating daily changes to travel restrictions, countries instituting/lifting travel bans, resort and theme park policy updates, and ongoing flight cancellations.

Stubbornly Optimistic About the Future of Travel

My clients’ ability or willingness to travel has ebbed and flowed along with the new variants and ever-evolving travel restrictions and policies. I get it, but it’s hard to not feel defeated at times. I want my small business to succeed.

In July of 2021, I decided to finally leave my aforementioned 20-year career to become a full-time travel agent. What better way to help my business succeed than to dedicate more time and effort to it?

[cue the music and butterflies…but only a few butterflies this time…let’s not overdo it…just in case]

Enter stage-left: “Hiya, I’m the Delta variant and this is my friend, Omicron.”

[For the love. OK…we can do this…turn up the music…flutter those wings like you’ve never fluttered them before little butterflies!]

Some of my clients are now more comfortable traveling outside of the country. And they are so grateful they did! I find most clients have no concerns about traveling around the United States so I’ve been working on customized road trips, National Park tours, relaxing resort stays, and theme park vacations. I was even able to do some domestic and international travel myself. New clients are booking and existing clients are traveling again and again. We’re getting there.

Who’s to say if travel restrictions are here to stay indefinitely…in some capacity at least. Travelers have and will adapt to the changes. My clients can rest assured knowing that I will continue to stay informed on the latest updates and continue to plan incredible vacations for them while offering concierge-level services and support.

Most importantly, I will continue to stay stubbornly optimistic about my new career as a travel agent and the future of travel.

Please note: I do fully understand the magnitude of lives lost, long-term illness, the impact on healthcare systems, the strain on healthcare employees and other essential workers, businesses closing, financial hardship for families and businesses, and the effects on society as a whole – economy, education, mental illness, and racial inequality and injustice – that our country is facing. This blog is not meant to diminish any hardships others have faced over the last two years or in the future. I’m sharing a glimpse into my experience as a new travel agent at the start of the pandemic.