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

Alright, Ashley thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I came up with my business when I hit a very rough patch in my life and did some much needed soul searching. I had returned back to the US, having endured a turbulent as well as stressful departure from Australia after Covid, when I realized I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life. I was aware that I didn’t want to work the traditional 9 to 5 and wanted the next thing I did to be something that I truly loved. That’s when it hit me! I should become a travel advisor. I have always loved to travel and have been doing so my entire life. Not to mention, at various times in the past family and friends have suggested to me to become one. What’s interesting is I always dismissed the idea.

At that point in my life, I thought there was no better time to start a new journey and see where it will take me. I also thought it was the perfect way for me to forge a path that would be uniquely my own. I wanted to combine my past experiences as an expat, background in the fashion and jewelry industries, and my personal interests (e.g., art, contemporary design, barre, aerial arts, yoga, hiking, meditation, spa treatments, gastronomy, and wine) together with my love for travel.

As I continued my research into luxury travel, I noticed my creative background and knowledge from living abroad as an expat in multiple countries would set me apart from other advisors. It’s these qualities that made me enthusiastic about my ability to offer customers a fresh perspective on travel. I also had a desire to focus on the specific passions of my customers, which would provide an opportunity for people to travel with more intention. I thought what better way to create lasting memories, authentic experiences, and unique travel stories than by enriching people’s lives and forming a source of inspiration for others to do the same.

Ashley, 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’m a luxury travel advisor who curates and designs travel experiences for solo travelers, couples and small groups. I started my business over a year ago in order to help customers experience travel differently by having them fully immersed in their specific passion or special interest. My specializations are in art & design, health & wellness, and food & wine.

What sets me apart is my background on the production side of the fashion industry, where I developed skills in creative problem solving, organization, time management, critical thinking, communication, and attention to detail. It was during my time working as a sales consultant in the gemstone and jewelry industry that I enhanced my skills in providing a high level of customer service. I am also grateful for the knowledge I gained about other cultures while on my own personal travels and years of living abroad as an expat.

The most rewarding aspect of my business is creating experiences that provide clients with a way for them to slow down, have authentic moments that bring them deeper into a culture, and immerse them in a specialization that adds passion to their trip.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of new clients for me has been through word-of-mouth. When clients get back from an unforgettable trip, they are more than willing to share their experience with family and friends. Their personal referral along with images from their trip are the key things that generate interest and inspiration for others to reach out to me and request a unique itinerary for their trip.

Networking has also been a valuable resource for spreading awareness about my business and bringing in new clients. It’s the engaging conversations with other business owners and discussions about my business that have brought offers to share my contact details with top clients. Through these generous offers, I have been able to reach a much broader audience and attract new clients faster.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was there is only one way to do things. During my career in the fashion industry, I spent many years trying to follow a rigid plan that I had mentally set for myself. I was so inflexible that I would berate myself for missing any personal timelines and become defensive when anyone tried to suggest alternative ways to achieve my goals.

It wasn’t until I was burnt out and my self-worth was in shreds that I realized I needed to take a different approach. However, as a person who struggles to live life without goals, it would take another few years of experimenting before I figured out how to best approach my career aspirations. Now, I make sure every step that I take is aligned with my goals and enjoyable, while leaving more room for flexibility in all of my plans.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @travelyourtruth
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travelyourtruth/
• Other: agents.travelleaders.com/travelyourtruth