We were lucky to catch up with Gabriella Saenz recently and have shared our conversation below.

Gabriella, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Folks often look at a successful business and imagine it was an overnight success, but from what we’ve seen this is often far from the truth. We’d love to hear your scaling up story – walk us through how you grew over time – what were some of the big things you had to do to grow and what was that scaling up journey like?

The Connect Travel started as a hobby. I would sit at my dining room table writing blogs that highlighted my favorite travel tips and hacks. On a good day, a friend or family member would reach out for help building their itinerary for a nominal fee.

Then, the pandemic hit and travel came to a screeching halt. The little money that was coming in from the blog posts and planning fees was gone. In that moment, I knew I had to sit down with my Co-Founders, Jasmine and Jose, and make a decision.

Should we throw in the towel? Or should we double down?

Ultimately, we decided to make some serious investments in our business. We became a certified travel agency. We paid to work with expert coaches that could help us reach our goals in less time. We invested in systems that made our lives easier as business owners.

That was a pivotal point in our business–because we finally had skin in the game. When we decided to really lean in, our company started building serious momentum.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Gabriella Saenz. I am a Milwaukee-based attorney and entrepreneur. I lead The Connect Travel, a boutique travel agency that specializes in curating immersive, one-of-a-kind luxury trips for our clients throughout Europe and North America.

At The Connect Travel, we believe that travel can be a force for good. We recommend local and immersive experiences in every city. We also donate a portion of all sales to local nonprofits. Because we’re committed to making a difference.

Today, we support our travelers primarily through our travel planning services, our travel blog, and our free, exclusive traveler community. Our travel agency proudly serves Milwaukee and clients nationwide.

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

For me, I needed to ditch the idea that entrepreneurship was about going at it alone. I would spend countless hours trying to become an overnight expert on obscure topics related to the business. I learned a lot in the process, but I also lost a lot of valuable time.

While I do still firmly believe that just about everything is “figureoutable,” I have shifted my focus to staying in my zone of genius. If it’s not in my wheelhouse, I will look to my team or connect with experts who can help fill the gap.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The best strategy for growing our clientele has been in-person events. For most people, travel is a substantial investment, and they want to work with someone who they can trust. At in-person events, we can answer any questions, address any concerns, and give them an opportunity to get a feel for our business.

From there, it’s all about delivering on our promises and giving our clients an experience to remember.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theconnecttravel.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconnecttravel/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theconnectinsiders
• Other: https://calendly.com/the-connect-travel