We recently connected with Elainne Feeney and have shared our conversation below.

Elainne, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

Travel is an item that is on most people’s bucket-list. For me, it holds a permanent position at the top of my list. Exploring the world, experiencing new adventures and cultures, while marveling at both natural and manmade wonders is a lifelong and continuous pursuit. Knowing my passion for travel, I decided to research the steps to become a travel agent and turn my love of travel and inherit desire to serve others into a career.

As an academic, I understood the importance of learning from the ground up and earning my stripes. There was SO much information to sort through and it was challenging to feel confident in which way to go. My research luckily led me to The Travel Institute which offers courses and certifications in the travel business from beginners to seasoned experts. I would spend any and all free time I had to read through the course material, excitedly taking notes and dreaming of getting my own business off the ground. With a toddler at home, a full-time job, a husband and a (vague) semblance of a social life, it took two months before I felt prepared to take the final exam to finish the course.

Having passed the exam and laying the foundation of my ‘official’ knowledge, it was time to start setting the framework for my business. I spent weeks listing out potential names – writing them out and walking past them to find the right fit. My husband and I finally landed on the perfect name – Wayfinder. It felt right and was inline with my goal and vision of helping others find their way to new and exciting adventures through travel. Once I had the name, it felt so much more real. I spent the next several months setting up shop – email, website, phone numbers, social media accounts, etc.
I also connected with my host agency (Outside Agents) that has been a blessing. Through their partnerships, they establish with suppliers, I was able to take a deep dive into more training to learn about products and partnerships offered with suppliers. This training gave me more confidence to pair my future clients with the right suppliers that would make their travel dreams a reality. But it doesn’t stop there – I take every opportunity to sharpen my skills – taking additional trainings as they become available, getting certified as a destination specialist for Italy, marketing courses, software courses, the works. This has been a fulfilling and rewarding journey to see behind the curtains and build my business from the ground up.

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 name is Elainne Feeney, a certified travel agent based in the Tampa Bay Area. Providing a tailored and professional service to my guests is my priority. I’ll expertly guide you through the planning process and manage the details of your trip to ensure that you have a unique and custom experience!

My services include; Handcrafted itineraries to meet your needs, travel insurance recommendations, suggestions and coordination of activities and tours, expert advice, trip detail management, in-destination support, and personalized service. I am a destination specialist for Italy but also hold certificates for family travel, group travel, and faith-based travel.

Now I know what you are probably thinking – no one uses travel agents anymore. Travel agents have evolved with the times. If anything, you need us more than ever. Travel, especially since 2020, is complex but I can help you navigate the process to enjoy your trip.

On average, people spend several weeks planning a trip. My planning services are not a one size fits all. I can help with as little or as much of the planning details as you need. My goal is to save your time and sanity to focus on having a GREAT time!

I have access to the multiple suppliers to find the best fit for your wish list. Not to mention access to ‘travel agent only’ sites – so you can close all 35 tabs on your browser.

My passion is travel and helping my guests have unforgettable adventures. My mission is to use my expertise to add value to your vacation and eliminate stress so you have the best experience possible. My service doesn’t end with the booking of the trip, but when you arrive home safely.

Does your business have multiple or supplementary revenue streams (like a ATM machine at a barbershop, etc)?

As I dove into the creative elements of establishing and promoting Wayfinder Travels – I wanted to explore ways of deepening the experience for my guests. I have a guilty pleasure for stationary and thought I would marry the two things as a supplementary offering to my guests and anyone who wants to document their travel experience.

I created a travel journal and published it through Amazon in June of 2022. This travel journal offers a bit of my expertise when it comes to planning for the trip with packing checklists, planning to do lists, and itinerary builder pages. The journal also offers writing prompts. The goal of the prompts is to capture moments of the trip to document the adventures to look back on fondly.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Taking the leap into a new venture was very scary. There are moments of self-doubt and creative blocks. Throughout my journey, I have found several resources that have helped me find my way. There are two main accounts that I find inspire and motivate my entrepreneurial spirt, Gary Vaynerchuck and Elsynergy. These are fantastic accounts that offer content that is adaptable to my business and my personal growth.

Specific for travel, Travel Marketing and Media is my go to resource for videos, workbooks, and other invaluable tools that have impacted my journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wayfindertravels.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elainne_wayfindertravels/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WayfinderTravelsLLC
• Other: Travel Journal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B37KWJZH/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_046SSA6FCX85P2GGN4W2

Image Credits
Photo 5: Eva Photostudios