We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Grace Parry a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Grace, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

I am a luxury travel advisor whose passion for exploration shines through with my business, Parry on a Plane. The name “Parry on a Plane” is a fitting reflection of my adventurous spirit. I am always on the move and want to embody the wanderlust that is traveling and encourage my clients to do the same. My brand seamlessly integrates with my personal social media presence, where I share a lot of my own travel experiences, which can be found under the handle @parrys_party. This cohesive branding not only highlights my personal touch but also connects me with clients who feel as if they have known me for years through my online presence and adventures.

What started as traveling around and gaining hands-on knowledge of new cultures, history, and more has turned into my career and business, “Parry on a Plane.” By incorporating my last name in the branding of my business, it has become a reflection of who I am and the love that I feel for not only the travel industry, but also the opportunity to see the world.
While I initially gathered clientele through my social media, which helped me get my business off of the ground, my reputation has grown primarily through word-of-mouth referrals-which in this industry is one of the best compliments you can receive, because it means you are not only doing your job, but you are doing it well!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My mom is the sole reason why I got into the travel industry! She is an inspiration to me, and from a young age, it was instilled in me that life experiences are equally important to my education as time in the classroom. My mother is truly the stem of all the adventures that life has taken me on, and encouraged me to break the mold, which led to my unconventional career path after college.

After college, I moved to Hawaii for a year, and worked for a scuba diving company on Oahu. I was so unsure of where I wanted to go in life, and still trying to figure out who I was as a person, and this gave me the time to figure it out. I met the most amazing group of friends, and their spontaneity is unmatched, so after my year in Hawaii a few of us decided to move to Italy, and bounce around Europe. I had always traveled growing up, but it was during this time that I really absorbed and appreciated all of the new connections, learning, and memories that came with putting yourself into unfamiliar territory.

I am now currently based in San Diego, California, which is where I began my business Parry on a Plane, after deciding the corporate world was not for me. Building a business has been a challenging yet rewarding journey. There’s been a steep learning curve, and I continue to grow every day. My company is evolving in numerous ways—expanding my website, increasing my client list, participating in supplier training, and going on site inspections, to name a few. As a one-woman operation, I handle everything from marketing, IT issues, to customer service, and travel planning. Initially, I felt overwhelmed by the workload, but I’ve since implemented operational processes to help manage the unpredictability of each day.

I’ve been in the industry for just over a year, and I’m amazed at how much I’ve achieved already. I started with my certification as a travel advisor and have since advanced to a pro advisor with my host agency, Fora.

I think because I have this undying appreciation and love for traveling it makes me great at my job, because I want others to experience what I have been able to see and do. I’m grateful for the trust my clients place in me to plan their dream trips, and it brings me immense joy to live vicariously through their adventures. Crafting customized travel proposals that align with each client’s unique style and preferences requires meticulous attention to detail, but it’s what I love most about my job.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been building authentic relationships and in turn, word-of-mouth referrals. I focus on primarily on providing personalized experiences for each client, truly listening to their travel preference. By going the extra mile to create tailored itineraries and maintaining open communication throughout the planning process, I not only ensure their trips are unforgettable but also foster trust and loyalty. I love to add in personalize touches as well, such as including notes for them when they arrive at hotels, or a bottle of champagne, anything to show that I truly care!

Additionally, social media and online communities have been a great way to showcase my expertise and share travel tips, photos, and stories from my clients’ journeys, as well as my own. This not only demonstrates my sentiment for travel but also engages potential clients and encourages them to reach out so they can embark on their own adventures.

Ultimately, it’s all about creating memorable experiences and encouraging clients to share their stories. Satisfied travelers become my best advocates and loyal clients, helping my business grow organically through their positive experiences and recommendations.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

Yes, my side hustle as a travel advisor with Fora evolved into my full-time career! When I first started, I was balancing being a new travel advisor and the work that comes with this, alongside another job that provided my primary income. It was an exciting adventure, but as my clientele began to grow, I found myself pulled in different directions by the demands of both roles, which forced me to choose between the two.

After careful consideration, it was a no-brainer: I wanted to fully commit to building my travel business and doing something that I love. While it was a risky decision to leave the stability of my other job, I knew in my heart it wasn’t the right path for me, and so I took a leap of faith.

The first six months were incredibly challenging. Travel advising is a commission-based industry, and I was financially strapped for a while, as I worked to get my business off the ground. There were moments of doubt and worry that crept in about the decisions I had made. However, I kept reminding myself that if you want something badly enough, you can make it happen, and that motivated me to push through.

A few key milestones along the way have included getting my certification as a travel advisor, which helped establish my credibility, and eventually moving up the totem pole to an advanced advisor, and now to my role as a pro advisor with Fora. As I learned a lot about the industry and put 100% of my time and effort into this job, I also began receiving positive referrals from satisfied clients, which fueled my growth. Eventually, I started to see a steady stream of bookings, and that financial strain I initially felt began to lift.

Today, I’m proud to say that my business is thriving, and it’s incredibly rewarding to do what I love full-time. It’s been a journey filled with challenges and triumphs, but every step has reinforced my belief that following your passion can lead to unforgettable opportunities.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://graceparry2.wixsite.com/parry-on-a-plane
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parry.on.a.plane/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-parry-77754a164/
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/parrys_party/https://www.foratravel.com/advisor/grace-parry
  

  @parry.on.a.plane

  https://www.tiktok.com/@parrys_party