We recently connected with Amy Pickering and have shared our conversation below.

Amy, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

Betting on myself was a risk taken!
When starting a new travel business,
your first concern is how to get clients.

As clients begin to trickle in, you’re suddenly faced with a confusing mass of deeper questions.

There’s always risk in starting any business, not to mention the hundreds of questions that flash through your mind.

“Will my travel business take off?”

“Are my services relevant to today’s market?”

Knowing the steps you need to take for risk management gives you an advantage. It’s scary jumping in at first but knowing how you can protect yourself against these potential issues gives you greater peace of mind.

There are many risks that can impact your travel business, especially in today’s market.

To help you stay aware of what you could face as a travel agent, here are some potential risks to watch out for:
Financial Risk, Reputational Risk, Operational Risk, Compliance Risk, and Strategic Risk.

Understanding the trouble you could face can help you develop a risk management plan to protect your business.

Choosing to embark on a new business venture is always risky – no matter what industry you’re in. Travel agencies are affected more than other businesses by the fluctuations of the economy and regional or global disasters. If a trip gets canceled, you don’t get paid.

All the gloom and doom may sound like too much to handle, but the bright side of being a travel agent far outweighs the scary risks.

Not only do you have access to exclusive travel perks, but you have a host of fantastic services you can offer. From phenomenal travel insurance to offering clients greater peace of mind, these simple priorities contribute to your ultimate goal: making someone’s life a heck of a lot easier.

Working as a travel agent is one of the most rewarding careers you could ever embark on.

I knew this risk would offer autonomy, financial potential, and the opportunity to pursue my passion. By careful planning and purposeful strategy, I was confident in my abilities to succeed. By taking this risk, I have been able to create my own path, make meaningful contributions, and shape my future. I knew by embarking on this opportunity that I would be opening new doors. This has been an exciting journey!

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

I’m a small town girl that had a BIG dream! I like to think that travel just found me, and I never really let go. You see, as a child a love of travel was instilled in me. We used to load up in my Grandparents station wagon, and go on annual trips to Worlds of Fun along with another annual (the Family Reunion). With family spread out across the US, the annual Family Reunion took me to many places as a kid.

My brothers, and I also took our own family vacations with Mom & Dad over our childhood years.

Fast forward to adulthood, and a job as a Flight Attendant intrigued me. As luck would have it, I was the right person for the job. Being a child from humble beginnings, this afforded me opportunities to see the world. Unfortunately as times would have it, the economy decided other plans for me. The airline couldn’t sustain as a business; therefore I had to pivot to another career. I became a teacher, but never lost my love of travel. So I thought how can I combine these two passions? That’s how Amy’s Travel Services LLC was born.

I’m a detail-oriented, organized, and customer-focused Travel Concierge that provides personalized travel planning and exceptional service to my clients. I am responsible for curating customized itineraries, handling travel logistics, and ensuring a seamless and memorable travel experience.

As a Personal Travel Concierge I:

Plan and book travel experiences, including flights, accommodations, transportation, dining, and excursions.

Provide tailored travel recommendations based on clients’ preferences, interests, and budgets.

Coordinate and manage last-minute changes, cancellations, and special requests – often across time zones – to ensure a smooth travel experience.

Offer expert knowledge of destinations, local attractions, and exclusive experiences to enhance travel itineraries.

Maintain relationships with hotels, airlines, tour operators, and other travel partners to secure the best deals and perks for clients.

Assist with travel documentation such as visas, insurance, and COVID-19 travel regulations.

Stay updated on travel trends, new destinations, and industry regulations to provide expert guidance.

Deliver outstanding customer service, responding promptly to inquiries and resolving any travel-related issues.

Along the way, I educate my fellow travelers on travel hacks, and tips.

Custom-made itineraries, specialized trips, exclusive access, sustainable options for traveling, local knowledge, excellent customer service and unique booking incentives are just a few strategies that set me apart and attract loyal clients.

I want others to know that by providing personalized attention, and prompt responses, I can assure you that I will go the extra mile to meet your needs!

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Well you wouldn’t hire an amateur to do a professionals job. So with this mindset, I reached out to an expert, Brian Ireland of Cruz Web Designs. He helped me with building a business website, running social media accounts, and understanding the complexity of search engine optimization (SEO).
My advice for those starting to build their social media presence is to educate yourself in Search Engine Optimization.(SEO). Knowing about SEO’s can help you improve your website’s visibility in search engines like Google, Yelp, Bing, and Internet Explorer. Some SEO strategies include on-page optimization (such as meta tags, keyword research, and internal linking) to help boost your rankings and drive more organic traffic to your site. You should be posting consistently and engaging with your audience daily. That means reading, responding, and even commenting on their posts too!
Different audiences use different social media platforms. There is a lot to choose from. You need to figure out who your ideal client is, and utilize the social media platform that best targets that audience.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Social media presence, registering on reputable sites such as the Better Business Bureau, customer reviews, and consistency have all helped build my reputation within the travel industry.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.amystravelservicesllc.wordpress.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/?hl=en&deoia=1
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/me?trk=p_mwlite_feed-secondary_nav
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCGDHgm6as5JUHpNI_-T-agA
• Yelp: https://www.m.yelp.com/biz/amys-travel-services-braymer
• Other: https://popl.co/profile/kDm3ppLc?trk=feed-detail_main-feed-card_feed-article-content&srsltid=AfmBOoqRJvwUgRo4s7m0N-lbHWDrZ9UCPjMffiZwU_t2fVrGyehEdjLl