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

Cassie, appreciate you joining us today. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?

I was just a month into travel advising, still in the stage where everything felt new and a bit overwhelming, when I was putting myself out there to connect with new clients beyond friends and family. One day, I made a simple post on Facebook about Turtle Bay Resort (which is now The Ritz-Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay), because I knew I wanted to niche down and eventually focus on helping clients plan more trips to Hawaii.

To my surprise, a girl I didn’t know messaged me about the post I made. I was SO ecstatic that I literally did a happy dance in my kitchen! It was that moment where it hit me: this is real, and someone actually wants to work with me!

We chatted over Messenger, and I closed the booking that very same night. It was not just my first client outside of friends and family – it was also my very first booking for a property and destination I already knew I wanted to specialize in. That moment gave me so much confidence and energy, and it was the first time I truly felt, ‘this is going to become something real.’ It remains one of my favorite memories, marking the true beginning of my journey as a travel advisor.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hey there! I’m Cassie McElfish, owner of Cassie McElfish Travel. I’m a moderate to luxury travel advisor and passionate travel expert, helping travelers create unforgettable experiences in some of the world’s most incredible destinations.

My love of travel started at a young age, exploring new destinations and embracing different experiences. Along the way, I realized that every journey has its own story, and that travel can be so much more than just a vacation – it can be transformative. I wanted to help people see that for themselves, so I turned my passion for exploring the world into a career. I started my travel business to help others plan unforgettable trips, create meaningful memories, and experience the joy that comes from traveling the world.

What I do goes beyond booking trips. I create fully customized travel experiences anywhere in the world – whether it’s a luxury resort, a boutique escape, or a one-of-a-kind local adventure – tailored to each traveler’s style and interests. I help travelers navigate the biggest challenges: overwhelming options, confusing logistics, and missing out on the best local experiences. My clients trust me to make their dream trips effortless, exciting, and truly unforgettable.

What sets me apart is my dedication to personal service, attention to detail, and the relationships I build with clients and travel suppliers across the industry. I go the extra mile to ensure my clients travel comfortably and like true VIPs, enjoying exclusive complimentary perks and amenities, with every detail carefully handled and tailored to their needs. Thanks to the connections I’ve built in the travel industry, I can access insider knowledge, exclusive opportunities, and unique experiences that travelers would not be able to enjoy on their own. I’m proud to have helped clients celebrate honeymoons, milestone birthdays, anniversaries, family vacations, bachelorette parties, and once-in-a-lifetime adventures.

At the heart of my business is a simple goal: to help people experience the world in a way that’s beautiful, personalized, and truly unforgettable. When you work with me, you get more than a travel advisor – you get a partner who brings flexibility, expertise, and specialized knowledge to every trip, while providing the highest level of customer care.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

It absolutely did. Travel advising started as a side hustle for me, but it quickly grew into my full-time business. While working as an educator for 7 years, I loved my job, but I often felt drained and realized I needed a change. I had always loved helping people plan trips and sharing my travel knowledge, so when the opportunity to turn my passion for travel into a career presented itself, it was something I couldn’t pass up – a chance to move into a chapter that was exciting, fulfilling, and entirely my own.

Since starting out, my business has steadily scaled up, especially as I’ve leveled up within my host agency and built a strong foundation for growth. Some key milestones along the way include booking multiple client outside of friends and family, forming strong relationships with hotel and tour suppliers, and specializing in fully customized, moderate to luxury travel experiences. Each of these milestones helped me gain confidence, credibility, and the skills to take my business to the next level.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Referrals and social media have been my best sources of new clients.

There is nothing more rewarding than when a past client recommends me to their friends, family, or colleagues. It is not just about growing my business – it is a reflection of the trust and satisfaction my clients feel after working with me. Referrals allow me to connect with travelers who already value a personalized, stress-free approach to planning their trips, which makes every new client relationship feel even more meaningful from the start.

Social media outlets like Facebook and Instagram, along with my weekly newsletter, have been powerful ways for people to discover me as well. Sharing travel tips, destination inspiration, and behind-the-scenes content of the trips I plan allows potential clients to see my expertise and the care I put into every detail. These platforms give me the chance to connect with travelers before they even reach out, helping to build trust and excitement from the very first interaction.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cassiemcelfishtravel.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassiemcelfish_travel/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1B5JyuJHXU/
• Other: Subscribe to my weekly travel newsletter: https://cassiemcelfishtravel.myflodesk.com/cassiemcelfishtravel

Image Credits

Kait’s Picture Patch