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

Karolina, appreciate you joining us today. Taking care of customers isn’t just good business – it is often one of the main reasons folks went into business in the first place. So, we’d love to get a conversation going around how to best help clients feel appreciated – maybe you can share something you’ve done or seen someone do that’s been really effective at helping a customer feel valued?

In the travel world, it is easy for clients to get lost in the sea of options. There are so many offers out there. My job for the last 16 years has been to deliver not just a tour for clients to book, but an experience that they will never forget. With Sated Ventures, we treat every trip like our own, and understand that it may be a big investment or a dream trip come true. We make sure clients feel we care. From the moment we begin planning, every detail is discussed, zoom meetings and texting is our way to build a friendship and learn more about the guests’ expectations, and once they book – the real fun begins. We sprinkle in upgrades, add gifts and treats along the way, and elevate experiences with special guides and surprise moments. Those touches make all the difference. Foodies meet chefs. History buffs get behind the scenes passes. Dancers are invited on stage. Local artists deliver gifts, and local specialties are left on pillows. We are always first in line, at the vip tables, and pop up with white glove picnics in the middle of the jungle. We leave people truly sated. This creates not a sale, but a lifelong client.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Karolina Guilcapi, and I am a culinary anthropologist. I believe that food connects us all. As I travel the world, I often do not understand the language, and sometimes find the culture confusing. But when I sit around a table and break bread with the local communities, I feel connected, at home, and satisfied. Chasing that feeling is the reason I founded Sated Ventures – a boutique travel company that specializes in private trips with a focus on food. Our clients come to us with an idea of where and when they want to visit, and we curate each itinerary from scratch around their needs, interests, and budgets. We then add some wonderful culinary touches such as tastings, cooking classes, market visits, reservations at top restaurants, and tours guided by chefs. We use our 20 years of experience and connections to add a lot of flavor to your trip – you will not be on a bus watching the city rush by. You will walk with a local professional guide, peek into doorways, taste goodies along the way, and really get a glimpse of life at your destination. Our expertise is Latin America – from Galapagos Islands to Patagonia, from Machu Picchu to Costa Rica, we have an extensive amount of fantastic places to offer any guest. We currently have 40 partner offices around the world, and we are located in Florida. Our clients do not have to be foodies, but they will definitely eat well.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

When I was 10 years old, my parents won the greencard lottery, and we emigrated from Poland to the United States. It was a whirlwind experience, and we had to start a new life with just a suitcase each that we brought with us. My humble beginnings are not a novelty – there are plenty of successful business owners today that came from nothing like I did, and not just immigrants. Growing up poor does not mean you have to continue being poor into adulthood – but that is a mentality has to be unlearned. We automatically have disadvantages to face – no capital to start a business, no credit to get loan approvals, no connections with high end clients, and no financial advisors to guide you once you do start bringing in profits. It is so important to invest in yourself, to learn, to always grow and advocate for yourself. You are capable of so much, once you unlearn all the negative habits that may come from your background.

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

Reputation is all about that magical number 7 – potential clients have to hear from you, or about you, at least 7 times before they associate you with your industry. So my 2 keys to success have been visibility and transparency. In regards to visibility, Sated Ventures is everywhere. We travel around the world to various trade shows and events where we connect with partners and clients. We invest in printed materials, mailers, monthly newsletters, and daily social media presence. But instead of pushing trips, we are simply present to “educate and entertain”. We share stories, photos, advice. We answer questions about weather, cameras, wildlife activity. Not every connection is meant to acquire a sale – in fact, the main purpose is to simply build relationships. We volunteer locally, we donate time and money to causes that speak to us, and we support other small businesses. Your company is a baby, and it takes a village to raise it. Do not underestimate the power of a local restaurant or shop and their connections to your potential clients. The other key to my success is transparency – I am simply the same person at work, as I am on a personal level. I love travel, I love talking about travel, and I love helping others discover that same passion. So even when a client picks my brain for weeks and then does not book, I do not call that a loss – I learn or gain something from every piece of research I do. So when clients see me on stage, hear the podcasts, run into me at the grocery store, or sit next to me at a black tie event – I am the same Karolina. I am the same Sated Ventures. Transparency is very important to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.satedventures.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sated.ventures.travel/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/satedventures
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karolina-guilcapi-sated-ventures/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeVxMvHV2V4FU7W-ldFpIfddJJRue-hLr
• Other: Google reviews: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sated+Ventures+Travel/@45.1575501,-128.1448585,3z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x88e6954654ed3087:0x927c43ecb609ea74!8m2!3d45.1575501!4d-128.1448585!16s%2Fg%2F11n83xx48w

Image Credits
All photos belong to Karolina Guilcapi or Carlos Guilcapi.