We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Anita Walker. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Anita below.

Anita, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you take vacations? How do you keep things going – any advice for entrepreneurs who feel like they can’t step away from their business for a short vacation?

Absolutely! I take as many vacations a year as possible because my mind, body, and soul need to be re-energized from my day to day. Before, I
always felt overworked and just exhausted. I have long thought this is the
norm; everyone works hard, and that's it, no vacations. A time later, I
learned that you should work hard, play harder, and vacation like
tomorrow doesn’t matter. Your well-being is essential, and if you do not
take the chance to take care of yourself and your mental health, then you
are just living and not enjoying the benefits life offers. If vacations do not
make you happy and excited, find what does and what excites you.
Everyone has different things to make them happy, and it is essential to
discover what that is. Mine is taking vacations and traveling around the
world, meeting new people, experiencing different cultures, and trying
different types of food.

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

Hello everyone! My name is Anita Walker, and the type of service I provide is Travel services. My Travel Agency is called ‘The Traveler Plug,’ I specialize in Resort Packages, Las Vegas packages, Individual and Group Cruises, and other types of travel. The name ‘The Traveler Plug’ came about because my son Jordan Walker has an entrepreneur network group called the ‘PlugHub Network,’ So you guessed it, I partnered with him to be the travel plug for his network group. How I got started with my travel agency was by accident. So, I kind of gave up on becoming a travel agent because I had been trying for years to get into the industry and did not know how to get started. A few years ago, my college friends and I started going on Girl Trips, and one of their sisters booked our first trip. I told her I was interested in learning more about how to become a travel agent, and the rest is history. I work full-time as an IT Product Manager and part-time as a Travel Agent, and I LOVE it!
The problem I solve for my clients is finding the most affordable travel packages for them, including hotel and airfare. I like to take my time to research the best deals and provide them with the information to select the best options for their travel needs. Also, I can assist my client with individual bookings; for example, if they want to book a hotel or just flights only, I can help them with those individual bookings.
What sets me apart from other travel agents in the industry is that I work hard to find the best travel deals for my clients by researching various websites. I want my clients to be able to save money, so I put myself in the client’s seat and collect information using a form I created to gather the most information from them. I take that information which will help determine my client’s needs. I will never do a disservice to my clients by not checking every option available for them to save money and have an enjoyable vacation. When my clients are satisfied and happy, then so am I.
I am most proud of being able to help my family and friends travel more and happy that they trust me to provide them with the best deals. As a child, my family didn’t travel much for vacations simply because we could not afford them. Now as an adult, I have been able to take my family on many enjoyable vacations. I have helped coordinate Cruises, Group Cruises, Girl Trips, Weekend Getaways, Resort Packages, and more for my family and friends, and the great thing is that they keep rebooking with me.
What I want potential clients to know about me is that I want to help you plan the best economical vacation for you and your family so that you can spend your time relaxing instead of thinking about the tons of money you paid to take that vacation. I want them to think and feel, WOW, I just saved a lot of money by booking with the Traveler Plug. That is so gratifying for me. Your vacation should be everything you dream it would be, and it is my job to make that dream a reality.

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

The best source for new clients for me has been family and friends. When I first started my travel business during Covid, I only told my family and friends that I was starting a Travel Agent business, and they told their family and friends and so on. I have gotten so many referrals, and it has been incredible. I am so thankful and appreciative of all the support and referrals I have received.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The best effective Strategy for growing my clientele is continuously learning by attending online travel training, webinars, and travel shows. Also, I have a travel group on Facebook called ‘The Traveler Plug.’ In this Facebook Group, I like to post Travel Quotes, Travel Tips, and beautiful pictures of destinations. Some followers may sometimes post photos of their wonderful vacations in the group. In addition, word of mouth is an excellent way for me to get clientele. When my clients refer someone, I know they appreciate me, and I am genuinely grateful to them. Just having rebookings are the best feeling and excitement I could experience as a Tavel Agent.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Instagram.com/thetravelerplug
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheTravelerPlug