“Take vacations.
Go to as many places as you can.
You can always make more money.
You can't always make more memories.”
Go to as many places as you can.
You can always make more money.
You can't always make more memories.”
Memories. That's what we all have and what we will cherish the most as we go through life. And some of the best memories are created through travel experiences. Whether it's an annual family vacation to someplace new each year, or a return to a familiar place, the travel experiences with family and friends is what brings us together sharing exclusive moments in time forever captured through memories.
Whenever someone asks me what I do for a living, I proudly tell people that I am a travel agent. By selling travel itself, I am helping families and individuals make the leap from turning ideas, dreams, and wishes into action, experiences and unforgettable memories that will be with them forever.
I was once in a time during my life where I wanted to wait. Wait until the kids were older to travel. Wait until I could afford a vacation. Wait until we had time off to take a vacation. But as you experience certain life experiences that alter your reality, it forces you to realize how short life really is, and that there is no reason to wait. Life is meant to be lived. In the moment and in the present as much as you can because you never know what tomorrow will bring.
I'm sure many people think that a travel agent books travel. It's true. We can book flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, transfers, excursions and so much more. But it's the so much more that I don't think people realize what that can encompass. We are dream makers, magic makers, and memory makers as well. And we pour ourselves, our heart and our soul into many of our clients' trips and travel plans to ensure the magic happens. That they travel with ease, and make unforgettable memories.
And sometimes we get so focused on our clients, we don't always realize we can make an impact on the destinations we travel to or send our clients to. A fellow travel agent colleague introduced me and our agency to a wonderful non-profit organization, Pack for a Purpose, who work with local communities to determine their specific needs and encourages travellers to pack these items into their bags with whatever luggage space they have to take with them during their travels. The much needed supplies are welcomed by the local groups as they are items they need and requested.
Last fall, our agency was hosting its first annual business conference in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic for Canadian travel agents. With the crazy hurricane season of 2017, our own trips were on the verge of being significantly impacted by Hurricane Irma and we were not sure if our travel plans were permitted to continue. Ultimately, our travel plans were not affected and were able to continue with our travels. A small group of us travelling together were profoundly impacted by the devastating damage from the hurricanes and while we were fortunate to continue our travels, we wanted to do something impactful for the local community where we were visiting.
With 72 hours before our departure to Punta Cana, I set out to collect some school supplies and basic toiletry and pharmacy items that I could bring with me in my luggage. I figured I could fill up a whole suitcase so I put out a general request to family and friends for any extra supplies they may have lying around that I could take with me. I would pick them up and pack them in my suitcase.
Last fall, our agency was hosting its first annual business conference in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic for Canadian travel agents. With the crazy hurricane season of 2017, our own trips were on the verge of being significantly impacted by Hurricane Irma and we were not sure if our travel plans were permitted to continue. Ultimately, our travel plans were not affected and were able to continue with our travels. A small group of us travelling together were profoundly impacted by the devastating damage from the hurricanes and while we were fortunate to continue our travels, we wanted to do something impactful for the local community where we were visiting.
With 72 hours before our departure to Punta Cana, I set out to collect some school supplies and basic toiletry and pharmacy items that I could bring with me in my luggage. I figured I could fill up a whole suitcase so I put out a general request to family and friends for any extra supplies they may have lying around that I could take with me. I would pick them up and pack them in my suitcase.
I have the most awesome friends! This is what I collected in 48 hours before my flight was to depart!
180lbs worth of stuff packed up for Pack for a Purpose!
I was blown away by the response and amazed at the generosity and speed at which people were willing to help. In 48 hours, I collected 180lbs worth of supplies to take with me to Punta Cana.
Meeting up with other agents in our agency, each person brought with them their own collection of supplies gathered within a week's time frame. In one week, over 60 individuals were able to collect a full SUV car load of much need and valued supplies for Pack for a Purpose to give a local community organization.
Meeting up with other agents in our agency, each person brought with them their own collection of supplies gathered within a week's time frame. In one week, over 60 individuals were able to collect a full SUV car load of much need and valued supplies for Pack for a Purpose to give a local community organization.
Centre Holidays travel agents with all the stuff we brought down from Canada for Pack for a Purpose!
The local pick up provider, Outback Adventures, was blown away by the amount of stuff we brought they were mostly worried about whether or not it would all fit in their car! Luckily, it did.
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The response from the local community was incredibly heartwarming as they were so shocked by our generosity. The impact that we made on that community alone is one that will stay with me forever. And continues to fuel my desire to do more, always.
Outback Adventures was kind enough to share with us a video of them dropping off the supplies and sharing the impact our donations made in the community.
"Thank you for all your donations. As you can see, we brought them to people who suffered a lot because of Hurricane Maria. Many children and families wanted us to thank you in their name. Please share this with everyone in your group who have been so kind to donate."
"Thank you for all your donations. As you can see, we brought them to people who suffered a lot because of Hurricane Maria. Many children and families wanted us to thank you in their name. Please share this with everyone in your group who have been so kind to donate."
Travel is all about experiences. And as a travel agent, I absolutely love that I am in an industry where I can be an integral part of each person's travel dreams. And in that, I can create the life for myself where my family will always have the best memories of childhood through their own travel experiences, including ones where we can choose to make an impact on others as well. Through giving others the gift and opportunity to travel, we receive so much more in return.
I am incredibly grateful for the experience, and that my children were also an integral part of this experience to see that our "little" efforts we made to collect supplies and bring them with us can have such a "huge" impact!
If you are interested in travelling with impact and volunteer opportunities abroad during your trip, let me know how I can help! It is through this experience realizing that each individual person can make an impact prompted me to become a Good Travels Advisor, to connect with other travel suppliers who are aligned with similar goals and visions. Together, we can all make a difference!
I am incredibly grateful for the experience, and that my children were also an integral part of this experience to see that our "little" efforts we made to collect supplies and bring them with us can have such a "huge" impact!
If you are interested in travelling with impact and volunteer opportunities abroad during your trip, let me know how I can help! It is through this experience realizing that each individual person can make an impact prompted me to become a Good Travels Advisor, to connect with other travel suppliers who are aligned with similar goals and visions. Together, we can all make a difference!
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