We were lucky to catch up with Doris Gilles recently and have shared our conversation below.

Doris, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

I believe success as a luxury travel advisor requires in-depth expertise in two areas: 1) the product (destinations, resorts, tours) and 2) the client (their travel style, interests, pace, etc.).

This came to life on a recent trip to Mykonos, Santorini, and Athens, Greece, where I joined my clients (also great friends). Knowing that we offer a service to skip to the front of the customs line, seeing in person the attention to detail at our preferred resorts, experiencing taking the high-speed ferry from Mykonos to Santorini, and having a tour guide for the Acropolis that worked as a field archaeologist are all experiences that help me better serve my clients. On the flip side, truly knowing my clients is just as critical. I included historical tours, a private photo shoot, and many great dining experiences because I knew those would make the trip successful in my clients’ minds.

I love being a travel advisor – inspiring others to travel, getting to know clients, and planning the perfect trip for each client.

Doris, 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?

Hi – my name is Doris Gilles, and I recently started a new adventure in Luxury Travel Planning.

My love for traveling really started after graduating from college when I backpacked through Europe for a month. Over the years, my appreciation for seeing the world has continued and grown. To date, I have visited over 30 countries, including favorites: Italy, Greece, Portugal, Spain, and Japan. I have planned a wide array of trips and events for family and friends, including family trips, reunions, honeymoon/anniversary experiences in Europe and Hawaii, Formula 1 race weekends in Monaco, Las Vegas, and Montreal, and wellness retreats in Sedona.

Now, as a professional travel advisor, I get to share my love for travel by creating unforgettable trips and experiences for my clients. As a Travel Advisor at High Access Travel (a full-service travel-experience agency and a Virtuoso member agency), I have access to a wealth of travel planning experience and resources. We offer custom concierge services to make our clients’ travels seamless and easy.

What will go into your plan:
* My travel experience, planning skills, and attention to detail.
* High Access Travel’s extensive experience, knowledge, and strong industry relationships.
* Virtuoso’s vetted portfolio of the best travel brands.

You may be asking yourself, what are the benefits of utilizing a professional travel advisor? There are real and significant benefits that I can offer my clients. For example, we offer 24/7 support for flights so we can help navigate cancellations or delays. Most of our hotel partners offer room upgrades, early check-in/late check-out subject to availability, $100 food/beverage credit per stay, complimentary breakfast, welcome amenities, complimentary WiFi, and more. We also offer VIP Airport Assistance at many European destinations, which fast-tracks you to the front of the Customs and check-in lines, and helps you navigate the airport. This can save you hours of valuable vacation time.

For people who don’t have the time, skills, or interest in researching and planning a trip, a professional travel advisor like myself is an ideal option. Even for people who do have the time, skills, and interest, I offer many perks they can’t get on their own due to our strong relationships in the industry.

I would love to work with you to make your dream trip a reality!

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

My business as a luxury travel advisor has grown because the career fits me, it makes sense. Friends, family, and acquaintances know me as someone who loves to travel, who travels often, and someone who is detail-oriented and organized. When I launched my new business venture, the general reaction was: “what a perfect career for you!” I hope my love for what I am doing shines through.

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

My most effective marketing strategy has been posting on social media about my travels, client travels, resorts that I have booked for clients, client reviews, site visits of resorts, interesting travel-related facts and products, and more. I hope when a friend or acquaintance is thinking of a trip, they think of me and say: “Ah, we should reach out to Doris. I know she loves to travel and is a travel advisor!”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dorisgilles.com
• Instagram: dorisgilles.traveladvisor
• Facebook: dorisgilles.traveladvisor