We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jenifer Breaux a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenifer, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with talking about how you serve the underserved, because in our view this is one of the most important things the small business community does for society – by serving those who the giant corporations ignore, small business helps create a more inclusive and just world for all of us.

There are so many types of travelers. On a recent survey, 43% of all travelers are family travelers. Of that, only 14% of families that have children with special needs travel. The International Board of Credentialing and Certification’s survey found that 93% of these families would travel more if there were more certified options available.

I have taken additional certifications, as well as brand specific certifications to aid my clients in finding the best vacation for their family. I also wrote a book called “Travel Is Possible” This book was written specifically for families that have children and teens that have special needs. It provides tips for every mode of travel. It provides real-life examples and experiences. It was my goal to provide hope to these warrior families. The book and the travel tips contained within can be used by every family.

I also started a yearly conference that brings experts together within the special needs community. This event was a day of learning within the special needs community. It connected those caregivers with experts and resources within the special needs community. There were two panels of experts where they heard answers to their questions and asked questions. Finally, there were speakers which provided information and inspiration to ignite them.

Finally, one blog/month is dedicated to topics for the special needs community. It is important to continue to support and provide information to this community. Conversation and acceptance worldwide are essential.

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?

I am a luxury travel specialist that curates rockstar vacation experiences for all her clients. As a real-life traveler with thousands of waterway miles, I personally understand the pressures of caregiving that can lead to compassion burnout. I am well sought after by national travel publications as a trusted voice on preparing and planning exceptional vacations for caregivers and their families.

I believe that luxury vacations extend far beyond the location of the travel destination. Luxury vacations are about the how and the WOW factor that includes planning every element of the journey. From avoiding long wait lines to arranging concierge services to ground travel, I arrange thoughtful details of your custom created itinerary that will curate legacy moments for generations to come.

I believe well-crafted dream vacations begin with the planning phase being as much fun as reaching the destination. Luxury vacations should be spiced with sensorial journeys that include distinct cultural and culinary adventures that satisfy the palettes of the entire family unit. I am an expert at creating exclusive journeys that impact all generations. I have the uncanny ability to authenticate luxury travel experiences for both the novice and experienced traveler.

My passion for cultural experiences and travel stems from crossing Canadian borders as a young girl. It was then that I realized the world is overflowing with many cultural dynasties waiting to be explored. My fervor for the beauty of ethnic diversity eventually led my husband and I to adopt two special needs sons, each with diverse cultural backgrounds. My pivot point for each family is that it is possible to enjoy amazing life endearing moments free from the chaos of planning. My range of experience includes arranging all-inclusive packages, driving vacations, and social stories.

My military background has gifted me with the ability to research and use information for logistical purposes, which is one of the most valuable aspects of planning dream vacations that require specialized itineraries. I continue to support her military community through written publications for the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) and my anthology, Paper Dolls with Military Stories to Tell. My seaworthiness is certified through world renown cruise lines, Norwegian, Princess, and Oceania. My husband and I along with our two sons travel extensively at least five times throughout the year.

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

I believe that there are several values and personality traits that I adopted as my own from my time serving in the military. The values I learned include integrity, honesty, and courage. These have helped me when working with my clients. They have also helped me serve on various non-profit boards to include my local Chamber of commerce. I also serve on the Public Relations team for my headquarters.

This has helped build my reputation. When I make a promise, I keep it. Examples are quotes, or answers to questions they may have to name a few. I also provide a lot of information through social media that helps those that are not my clients. The information is fun, but informative such as what to experience in a city, what to see and where to eat.

Volunteering in the community also helped me create relationships, friends really. Through these relationships and being consistent has helped me build my relationship not only within my market, but within the community.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I think every business has a COVID story, but the service industries were deeply affected, and the travel industry was no exception. For 18 months, I had two reservations of which one was a local hotel, and one was a gift certificate. It was extremely hard for me. I tried to find the positive during this time. My children, who have special needs, are not ones who can sit in front of a computer and learn. This was a positive because I spent additional time with them. I understood what level of learning they were and what specific areas needed additional attention. We exercised together, cooked, and danced around the house. It was difficult, but it was a special time.

However, it was also difficult. I started to think about my business. What did I want to do with my business? Instead of feeling down about it, I took the time and reflected on what I wanted to do. Did I want to stay in business, keep the same model, or change. I also used the time to take more training with different vendors.

I decided that I wanted to elevate my business. I wanted to grow it. I also wanted more. I wanted to write a book, reach the special needs community, and give back to them. I have two kids with special needs and wanted to help in some way. I hired a coach and began crafting my plan. Now I am putting those plans and growth into action.

There is a reason for every season. Taking a breath does not have to be a bad thing. Take the time to stop, listen and assess. I definitely did and I am thankful for the time.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.iamjeniferbreaux.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/iamjeniferbreaux
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JBTravelPros
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeniferbreaux/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAMJeniferBreaux
• Other: I have a lifestyle brand: @iamjeniferbreaux I have a business brand @jbtravelpros