With 2019 quickly approaching, I thought I’d share my 2018 in review. This blog post covers both my professional and personal favorite experiences of 2018. Here goes…
First Time Visiting South America
In 2018, I had my very first visit to the South America continent. I visited Colombia (Cartagena + Medellin). Narcos episodes on Netflix inspired this trip. I truly had an incredible experience in this country. The beautiful architecture, sunny weather, delicious seafood. What more could you ask for? In Cartagena, I spent some time on the idyllic Rosario Islands. A historic sightseeing tour in the Walled City was also noteworthy. In Medellin, I visited a coffee farm and Comuna 13. You can read about my 9 nights in Colombia HERE.
2018 G Adventures Brand Ambassador
Not only was I lucky enough to visit one South American country in 2018… I was lucky to visit TWO! 200+ North American travel agents applied. Imagine my surprise that I was selected among 6 others to become a 2018 Brand Ambassador for G Adventures. Brand Ambassadors were offered a free trip to see through the eyes of a regular consumer. My free trip was to Peru.
G Adventures is a a small-group adventure travel company and social enterprise founded in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. G Adventures offers more than 700 different tours in more than 100 countries. They carry 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year. Volunteer elements are found in the company’s ‘G for Good’ trips. In Peru, I visited the Ccaccaccollo Women’s Weaving Co-op initiative. To learn more about this Co-Op, visit Planeterra Foundation’s website here. If you’re looking for an adventurous small group trip that’s meaningful, look no further than one of G Adventures’ trips.
New Car
One of my personal accomplishments in 2018 was getting a new car. Badly needed! It’s wonderful to get to explore more local places without worrying about my car needing a repair. More staycation options to be had for when I’m not collecting stamps!
Parents Moved to Richmond
After 4 years, I finally convinced my parents to move to Richmond, VA to be closer to me. Great cost of living, less traffic. Perfect for the retired folks! This was definitely a highlight being able to enjoy spending time with them.
First Sponsorship Post
In the summer of 2018, I received my first sponsored stay at a hotel. In exchange for my free night, free dinner and breakfast (and comped parking!), I created social media posts and a blog post. The Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel truly is a great hotel stay for anyone visiting the Norfolk, Virginia area. Close to water, great seafood, close shopping, and onsite amenities you come to expect like a pool. In 2019, I would welcome more sponsorship posts that were mutually beneficial for both parties.
Started 101 Series on Blog
My 2018 in review wouldn’t be complete without mentioning my new 101 Series on the blog. I created that specifically for newer agents who have any questions about getting started. I’ve had several people email me asking to be their mentor. For prospective agents, check out my 101 Series blog post on Becoming a Travel Agent. I want this blog to have multiple purposes:
- Offer up travel tips for the places I’ve been
- Offer up advice for prospective agents
- Document my life as a travel agent
First Visit to Eastern Caribbean
Had the opportunity to visit Eastern Caribbean this summer… TWICE. Previously, I had only visited Western Caribbean islands:
- Dominican Republic
- Jamaica
- Bahamas
It was a great experience visiting the three Sandals Resorts in Saint Lucia and Beaches Resort in Turks and Caicos. In 2019, my goal is to visit another Caribbean island to increase my knowledge and assist my clients EVEN more. These trips are so invaluable to me. I also met many wonderful agents that I kept in contact with on Facebook on my trip to Saint Lucia (pic below).
New Relationship
My 2018 in review wouldn’t be complete without mentioning my new relationship. When you find a significant other that enjoys traveling as much as you do… you hold on to them! 😉
Here is a pic of us in Las Vegas this summer. Heading to Vegas soon and need some tips? HERE is my full blog post on 5 Nights in Las Vegas.
Increased Client Portfolio
The good part about being a Travel Agent is that your client portfolio tends to increase, not decrease. Whereas a car salesman may be great one year and not have the same fortune the next… that’s not the same with us. That client you helped for their Dirty 30, they will likely return for their birthday the next year. And the next. And so on. So I’ve seen a continuous growth (that is reported with my VacationCRM database tool!) and I love it. Many new referrals in 2018. Word of Mouth referrals are BY FAR the best (and cheapest!) way to get new leads. Those leads are also usually more credible and ready to book. For prospective agents, really cherish your repeat clients. Those clients who book a Christmas trip with you every year, etc. Those are like guaranteed bookings that many people in the sales field wish they had.
Spent Day of The Dead in Mexico City
One of my 2018 bucket list items was to spend time in Mexico City during Day of the Dead. The James Bond 2015 movie Spectre may or may not have influenced me. What an incredible experience this trip was. Probably one of my most meaningful trips I’ve taken. Most of my trips are for work purposes and visiting a popular region that I sell a lot of. This trip was more of a personal trip than professional one. HERE is my full blog post on spending Day of the Dead in Mexico City. This was a really big highlight for me.
Overall, 2018 was a fantastic year both personally and professionally. My goals in 2019 include:
- Completing more training
- Completing my Hawaii Specialist Certification (Visiting 3 Hawaiian Islands in July! Eek!)
- Visit a new Caribbean island this summer during a FAM Trip
- Continuing to build my client portfolio
- Take my parents on a trip somewhere
- Earning at least 2 new passport stamps
- Getting new professional head shots done for LinkedIn
- Getting new business cards
What are YOUR 2019 goals? Feel free to share in the comments or email me at cassandra@accent-on-travel.net.
