What inspired you to pursue a career in travel and tourism? Was there a defining moment?
My inspiration to pursue a career in travel and tourism came from my own love of discovering the world and experiencing different cultures. I’ve always believed that travel has the power to broaden our perspectives, create meaningful connections, and give us memories that last a lifetime.
here wasn’t necessarily one defining moment; rather, it was a gradual realization that I wanted to turn something I genuinely loved into a career. I’m also grateful to my former boss, who initially hired me as his agency’s Office Manager but believed in me enough to give me the opportunity to train as a Travel Associate within his agency. That opportunity opened the door to an entirely new career path for me.
As I began traveling more, I found myself not only enjoying the destinations but also becoming fascinated with the planning process—the organization, attention to detail, and thoughtful touches that can transform a good trip into an exceptional experience. My background as an Executive Assistant naturally complemented that skill set. I realized that many of the qualities I had developed in that role anticipating needs, managing details, coordinating logistics, and providing personalized service, were incredibly valuable in travel.
That realization ultimately led me to become a Travel Advisor and, eventually, a franchise owner of La Rosa Negra Travel by Dream Vacations. Today, I specialize in creating curated luxury and experiential journeys where the details truly matter. I don’t simply want my clients to visit a destination; I want them to experience it in a way that feels personal, seamless, and memorable.
For me, travel is about so much more than getting from one place to another. It’s about the stories we bring home, the connections we make along the way, and the experiences that stay with us long after the journey ends. That is what continues to inspire me every day.
Can you share a moment in your career when you realized, “This is exactly what I’m meant to do”?
There have actually been several moments throughout my career when I’ve had that feeling, but one that stands out is when I realized how much I genuinely enjoyed taking the vision a client had for a trip and turning it into an experience, they could actually see themselves living.
I remember recognizing that I wasn’t simply booking cruises or land packages. I was listening to what my clients wanted, anticipating needs they hadn’t even thought about, researching the details, and putting all of those pieces together to create something that felt uniquely theirs. When clients would come back and tell me how much they enjoyed the experience or thank me for handling the details so they could simply relax and enjoy their journey that was when it really clicked for me.
My background as an Executive Assistant played a big part in that realization. I’ve always been someone who enjoys organizing, coordinating, solving problems, and paying attention to the details. Travel gave me the opportunity to combine those skills with something I genuinely love discovering the world and creating meaningful experiences.
That’s when I realized, this is exactly what I’m meant to do.
Today, I don’t see myself as someone who simply sells travel. I see myself as a curator of experiences. There is something incredibly rewarding about taking a client’s ideas, dreams, or even a simple “I want to go somewhere special,” and turning that into a thoughtfully designed journey they’ll remember for years to come.
How has your journey evolved since graduating from The Travel Institute?
Since graduating from The Travel Institute, my journey has evolved tremendously. The education gave me a strong foundation and a deeper understanding of travel as a profession and a business.
Since then, I’ve grown from simply booking travel to becoming a Travel Advisor and business owner focused on curating luxury and experiential journeys. I’ve expanded my expertise through group travel, international partnerships, and hands-on experience managing complex itineraries and logistics.
Earning my CTIE credential was another important milestone because it reinforced my commitment to professionalism, continued education, and excellence.
Most importantly, I’ve learned how to combine my love of travel with my Executive Assistant background, attention to detail, and passion for personalized service. Today, I’m not just selling travel—I’m creating experiences and continuing to grow as a travel professional.
What’s your favorite part about helping others experience the world through travel?
My favorite part is seeing the excitement and joy that travel brings to people. I love taking an idea or dream someone has and turning it into an experience that becomes a lasting memory.
There’s something incredibly rewarding about knowing that I helped create a journey where someone experienced a new culture, celebrated a milestone, stepped outside their comfort zone, or simply took the time to enjoy life.
For me, the greatest reward is when a client returns and says, “That was an amazing trip!” That’s when I know I’ve done more than book a vacation, I’ve helped create a memory they’ll carry with them for years to come.
What’s one cultural experience that left a lasting impression on you?
One cultural experience that left a lasting impression on me was visiting Egypt. Being surrounded by thousands of years of history while also experiencing the everyday culture, traditions, food, and hospitality of the Egyptian people really stayed with me.
What made the experience even more meaningful was learning about the Nubian community and their rich history, traditions, and strong sense of cultural identity. Having the opportunity to learn about their way of life and connect with their culture gave me a perspective of Egypt that went far beyond the pyramids and ancient temples.
It reminded me that travel is about so much more than seeing beautiful or historic places. It’s about meeting people, hearing their stories, experiencing their traditions, and gaining a deeper understanding of the cultures that make each destination unique.
That experience reinforced why I love travel so much. I want to create journeys that allow people not just to see a destination, but to truly experience and connect with it.
What skills from The Travel Institute have made the biggest impact in your career?
The biggest impact has been gaining a deeper understanding of the business and professionalism behind being a Travel Advisor. The Travel Institute taught me to look beyond simply booking travel and to understand the importance of planning, client relationships, risk management, and delivering exceptional service.
It also reinforced the importance of continuing education and staying knowledgeable about the industry. That has helped me become more confident in working with suppliers, managing complex itineraries, and creating more thoughtful experiences for my clients.
Most importantly, it gave me the confidence to see myself not just as someone who sells travel, but as a professional travel advisor and business owner who brings expertise, organization, and personalized service to every client relationship.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their travel industry journey?
My advice would be: study, get your certifications, and commit to the process. Take the time to learn the industry and invest in yourself because knowledge and credibility matter.
Give yourself some grace and understand that success doesn’t happen overnight. There will be challenges, mistakes, and moments when you question yourself, but those experiences are part of the journey.
Most importantly, don’t give up on your dreams. Stay consistent, keep learning, keep growing, and remember why you started. If this is truly what you want to do, give yourself the time and opportunity to build it. Your journey may look different from someone else’s, and that’s okay.
Believe in yourself, trust the process, and don’t give up.
How do you stay motivated and inspired in an industry that’s constantly changing?
I stay motivated by remembering why I started. I love travel, learning about new destinations and cultures, and creating meaningful experiences for my clients.
Because this industry is always changing, I embrace change by continuing my education, staying informed, attending trainings and industry events, and building relationships with industry partners.
Most importantly, my clients inspire me. Seeing their excitement and hearing about their experiences reminds me why I do what I do. I stay open to learning, adapting, and growing and that keeps me excited about what’s next.
Are there any mentors or peers in the industry who’ve deeply influenced your path?
es. One of the people who had the greatest influence on my journey was my former boss, who gave me my first real opportunity in the travel industry. He hired me as an Office Manager but believed in me enough to give me the opportunity to train as a Travel Associate. That confidence in me opened the door to a career I truly love.
Since then, I’ve also been fortunate to learn from mentors, suppliers, colleagues, and other Travel Advisors who have shared their knowledge and experiences with me. Their guidance has reminded me that you never stop learning in this industry.
I’m grateful for everyone who has poured into my journey, and I believe one of the most important things we can do as travel professionals is to support and encourage those coming behind us.
If you could only pack 3 items for a trip around the world, what would they be?
If I could only pack three things for a trip around the world, the standard response would be my passport, my phone, and a great pair of comfortable shoes.
My passport because, obviously, I need to get where I’m going! My phone because it keeps me connected, helps with navigation, and allows me to capture those special moments along the way. And comfortable shoes because I want to explore, whether I’m walking through a historic city, visiting a local market, or discovering somewhere completely new.
But beyond those three things, I would bring something that can’t actually be packed in a suitcase: my willingness to immerse myself in the culture of each destination.
Because when the trip is over, it’s not the things I bought or the places I checked off a list that will matter most. It’s the memories I created, the people I met, the stories I heard, and the experiences I had. And those are things no one can ever take away from me.
So, passport, phone, comfortable shoes—and an open heart ready to experience the world.
What’s one place on your travel bucket list that you haven’t crossed off yet?
One place that is still on my travel bucket list is Japan.
I’m fascinated by the contrast between its ancient traditions and modern innovation, the temples and historic neighborhoods, the food, the culture, and the attention to detail that seems to be woven into everyday life.
I don’t just want to visit Japan and check it off my list. I want to take the time to experience it, to immerse myself in the culture, connect with the people, explore beyond the obvious tourist attractions, and truly understand what makes the destination so special.
So, Japan is definitely still on my list, and when I finally go, I want it to be an experience rather than simply a trip.
