We recently connected with Heather Moody and have shared our conversation below.

Heather, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to start by getting your thoughts on what you are seeing as some the biggest trends emerging in your industry

In travel, we’re seeing a couple of trends: interest in visiting lesser-known destinations, and a desire for curated, private experiences. That’s where your travel designer comes in! A longstanding, adventurous client of mine has seen much of the world. While on a visit to Cuba, we opened a map and realized he’d not yet been to Suriname. We were able to extend his trip and quickly connect with a great local tour operator. Suriname is a hidden gem with many cultures and languages, stunning scenery and wildlife. This impromptu trip quickly became a top experience for him, a destination he found as remote and stunning as Southeast Asia, only a 5 hour flight from Miami.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My background is in luxury hospitality. I was a concierge for renowned hotels like Amangiri and Waldorf Astoria, and helped open the flagship SLS Hotel. In 2020 (admittedly a unique time in the industry) I transitioned to the other side as a travel advisor. I felt called to take what I love most about being a concierge – sharing the hidden gems of a destination and making the impossible requests possible – to a global level.

Sage Travel is informed by my time in the American Southwest. The service, design, and reputation of Amangiri is what brought me there, the wild beauty of the desert and connection to the land is what made it my second home. It’s a special place – painted canyons dressed with desert sage, impossible landscapes of light and shadow that one could explore for a lifetime.

Though I mostly curate private, luxury leisure travel, I personally love a road trip with what I call high/low elements – a few adventurous nights in nature at a farmstay or glamping at Under Canvas, followed by a banger of a luxury resort. I also specialize in wellness travel, along with immersive, cultural experiences.

I find I’m often a family’s first travel designer, which I love. These clients enjoy planning their own travel but appreciate leaving the bulk of the research time to me. Also, a travel designer is your biggest advocate; we leverage industry connections and are there for you if something goes sideways on your vacation. If you gravitate to unique design, boutique hotels, and connecting with local culture, we might be a good match.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

Each time I wrap up a discovery call, I think to myself, “I genuinely would like to be friends with this person!” The most interesting, smart, and curious clients find their way to me, and I’m so grateful for that. Our relationship is not unlike other industries – real estate comes to mind – in that they might not have a big trip for a year or so, but I hope our personal connection and my dedication will be top of mind when it’s time.

In order to nurture that, I lean in to my “giving love languages” of quality time and gifts. I write my Substack newsletter to stay connected and helpful (and sometimes amusing) and I love sending thoughtful mementos. My favorite is to mail a coffee table book on the destination they are visiting and schedule delivery so it is waiting for them upon their return home.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

This pertains to running a travel agency, but Masters In Travel is a community and weekly podcast that I’ve found to be so enlightening, even though I’m no longer a newbie. The industry can be willy-nilly in that there are many hobbyists (there’s a somewhat low barrier to entry) and there is no one defined way to set up and run your business. It’s been great to hear industry leaders speak to their preferred vendors and suppliers, workflow best practices, and latest technology.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sagetravelco.com
• Instagram: sage__travel
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sageluxurytravel
• Other: Substack: sagecollective.substack.com

  Regarding the website, this should be live this week :)