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

Hi LaKiesha and LaQuasha, thanks for joining us today. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?

One of the biggest trends that we have noticed is the increase in young, educated African American and/or minority travelers. A big chunk of our customers are from this demographic, They have completed their education and are waiting until later to start families so they have the expendable time and income to invest in travel.

Another trend we have noticed is the amount of money being spent on travel has increased significantly since Covid. Due to the lockdown, travelers are opting to spend more money on luxury travel vs budget travel and to take those once in a lifetime trips and take advantage of insta-worthy moments.

The use of the travel agent has also come full circle. Prior to Covid, many travelers relied on online booking platforms and hosted apartment/condo rentals for their vacations. Recently, we have seen an influx of travelers utilizing travel agents. Those online booking platforms and hosted apartment/condos weren’t fighting for their client’s when travel was shut down for clients to be refunded or to receive travel credits. Travelers now see the importance of having a travel agent in their corner in unforeseen situations as well as the ability to contact a “real ” person to resolve issues.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

In May 2012, my sister and I had the opportunity to participate in a study abroad program for two months in Ghana, Africa. The trip to Ghana was our very first time out of the country and while in Ghana, we fell completely in love with the culture, the people and the experience. Upon our return to the States, we continued to travel to more and more countries in order to satisfy our passion for travel. Naturally, we began to introduce our family and friends to travel and they raved about the itineraries and experiences we curated for them during their trip and received feedback that we should plan travel for others as a living. We agreed!….and TwinTravels was started in 2018.

What sets us apart? We are avid travelers who have traveled extensively throughout the world so we have first hand knowledge and experience with many destinations. At the core of our company, we believe in creating close ties with each customer to best understand their travel needs and preferences. We strive to create a rapport with clients and to personalize the trip to the person. Whether you’re getting ready to backpack through Europe or are preparing to take an exotic honeymoon, planning a trip has never been easier.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Word of mouth! Our personalized customer service has allowed for our current clients to rave about the itineraries we curated for them, the amazing accommodations we booked and/or the memories we helped them and their loved ones make. Through our customer base we have been able to build a reputation of professionalism, a unmatched level of expertise and repeat clients who refer us to others who become repeat clients and refer other travelers to us as well.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

The first year or so of starting a business is rough and when we had finally started to build a clientele, Covid hit and travel was essentially paused for 2 years for most people. Due to the profound effect that Covid had on the travel business, we could’ve quit the travel industry and ended our business but we decided to continue and persevere and be creative. We opted to travel during Covid to understand the various Covid requirements and experiences that our clients may experience so we can let them know exactly what to expect. Through traveling at this time, we were able to increase our knowledge of various destinations and resorts within destinations by immersing ourselves and obtaining first-hand experience to sell the destination or resort more effectively. As a reward for that resiliency, our business has expounded immensely.

Contact Info:

• Website: twintravels.org
• Instagram: @twintravels2018
• Facebook: TwinTravels, “A Travel Concierge Company”