Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cheryl Jones . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Cheryl, thanks for taking the time to share your stories 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.
Travel has always been a passion of mine since my youth. I loved geography and would spend time looking at the maps and pictures of different countries. Back then, the World Book Encyclopedia was what Google is today. I would grab one of those books and just imagine I was in some of the places I was reading about.
Reading was key for me because my mom was a school teacher and that was a daily requirement. Fast forward to senior year in high school, I wanted to become a flight attendant and my mom said no, you’re going to college. I completed my nursing degree but I still had that strong desire to travel.
I started planning trips and events for friends and family as a hobby. I loved pulling the details together. It was only after a friend jokingly said, I should start charging people to create trip itineraries.
I gave that some thought and decided to turn my passion into a business. I started Lez Go Travel in 2000 and here we are 22 years later.
Cheryl, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Lez Go Travel is a family-owned, independent travel agency that specializes in group travel and honeymoons. Our focus is on providing luxury travel experiences that are personalized to our clients’ needs. We believe that travel should be an adventure, and we work hard to create unique itineraries that will exceed our clients’ expectations. We’re passionate about what we do, and we love nothing more than helping our clients explore the world.
We are an accredited travel agency through the International Association of Travel Agents Network and we are active members of the American Society of Travel Advisors, the European-based Private Luxury Group, and Connections Luxury, the international private community for trusted decision-makers in luxury travel.
And to give you some insight into who I am, I retired from my career as a surgical nurse to focus on my true passion: designing amazing honeymoons and romantic getaways. I am an award-winning romance travel designer with over 20 years of experience in the travel industry. I am a Certified Honeymoon & Destination Wedding Specialist, and I have also obtained my Certified Travel Associate designation.
I have a deep understanding of the quality management process, and I use that knowledge to ensure that each and every one of my clients has a perfect trip. When I’m not helping couples plan their dream getaways, you can find me spending time with my family or exploring new corners of the world.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
The best source of new clients for me has been referrals from current clients. I’ve found that word-of-mouth is the best way to attract new business, and that’s been especially true in my industry. I’ve also had some success with social media marketing, but referrals are still my number one source of new business.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
There are a couple of things I would say that helped build my reputation. First, I have been in the industry for a long time and have a lot of experience. I’m a lifelong learner and with that, I am constantly looking for learning opportunities to make sure I stay up to date on the latest industry news and trends. Second, I am always willing to share my knowledge and help others. Third, I am active on social media and try to engage with other travelers. Finally, I am always willing to go above and beyond for my clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lezgotravel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lezgotravel/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lezgotravel
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lezgotravel/
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lezgotravel
Image Credits
Cheryl Jones