Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shea Hill. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Shea, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later

Becoming a travel agent has changed my life in so many ways; I wish I had stumbled upon it sooner! When I first started, I had an at home bakery and was a slave to my kitchen. My Friday and Saturday nights were filled with cake, sugar, decorating, loads of dishes, and late nights. This took a toll on my family. We couldn’t make plans for the weekends and we always had to be home on Saturday mornings for order pick ups. Sometimes people would come late and ruin what plans I did have! Additionally, my kitchen was always a mess because there would always be some order I needed to work on. I was tired of it and I wanted a way out without giving up the money it brought in. Cue- Smart Moms Plan Disney, a Facebook group that helps moms plan trips to Disney. They posted they were looking for assistants and a light bulb went off. I knew this was something I could do. After 6 months of being an assistant, I became an agent. Here we are 3 years later and I have reaped the benefits of this business over and over. I have met some of my best friends, traveled more than I had imagined, can afford to take my family on various trips, and the additional money had been such a blessing. I was able to quit baking completely and replaced my income just by seeing a post on a Facebook group. Amazing!

Shea, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a travel agent who helps people plan unforgettable vacations- whether that is a magical Disney trip, a relaxing all-inclusive resort, a cruise full of adventure, or something totally unique to them.
I help clients plan stress-free trips from start to finish. That means everything from choosing the perfect destination and resort to understanding how to use credit card points to save money, to making sure every traveler in the group feels seen and included. My job is to make it simple, fun, and doable. The best part is that my help is FREE!

What sets me apart? I’d say it’s my heart for families and my belief that everyone deserves a little magic in their lives. I listen closely to what my clients really want, and then I work hard to make it happen in a way that fits their style, needs, and budget. I’m also part of a powerful network of agents who support each other and share tips, which means my clients get the benefit of an entire community’s worth of knowledge and experience.

I’m incredibly proud of the relationships I’ve built, not just with clients, but with fellow agents too. It’s so rewarding to be part of someone’s joy, and even more so when they come back to plan the next trip. That’s the greatest compliment.

At the end of the day, my mission is simple: to help make vacation planning stress free. If I can take the stress off someone’s plate and replace it with excitement and ease, I’ve done my job. That’s what I want people to know!! if you’re dreaming of a trip, I’m here to help make it real.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I live in the Midwest which means there are potential for snow storms during the winter. In January, I had a friend group traveling to the Dominican Republic and we had been watching the weather very closely. Their vacation nearly fell apart with the cancellation of their flight. Everyone sprang into action- finding alternative flights and rearranging resort transportation. They drove 4 hours in a snow storm to an alternative airport and made it in time for their flight. While it was stressful for everyone at the time, everything turned out okay. It reminds me why I do what I do.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I honestly asked my friends and family to share, share, share! The power of social media is simply amazing. Sometime asking your friends, family, and followers to share a post can explode your social media. I remember one one snowy day I saw a post going around asking others to join/follow pages and I also shared mine. The next day I think I had gained 1.5k followers. It really made a significant impact on my presence on social media.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instragram.com/sheatravels1
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sheatravelsllc