We recently connected with Marie Richards and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Marie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Any thoughts about whether to ask friends and family to support your business. What’s okay in your view?

I know that when I was asked to join a team of travel agents, I thought they were crazy. The industry was dead, right? People have the internet and can book on their own. And then I entered the industry and realized there was so much more to offer to our clients than what I originally thought. Then came COVID-19 and people finally began to realize how much more valuable we are.

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

I started in the travel industry in 2012 and was requested to join a team due to my personality. I had no experience other then booking my own personal travel and from using a travel agent in the past. Due to my love of travel, I thought it would be a great opportunity to not only travel more but also for a second source of income to support that love of travel. People thought I was nuts going into an industry where they did not think there was a future. After a year of being on a team, I went out on my own and started my own business where I branded myself as a “Travel Concierge” to decipher myself from the rest and to show clients I go above and beyond. From there it grew year after year. It became more and more successful due to referrals from past clients who then became repeat clients and also friends.
This is not an easy industry. You have to constantly stay on top of new requirements, areas of interest, rules and regulations, continuing education, networking, etc. Not to mention juggling bookings, new quotes, final payments, and ensuring clients get from point A to B safely. I am here for my clients before, during, and after travel.
All of the itineraries I design are custom to each client. We go through a series of questions to better get to know the traveler, their wants and needs, any special accommodations, etc. We want to ensure the itinerary we put together for you is 100% unique to you! People save to go on vacation, I never want anyone to be disappointed and feel as though they wasted their hard earned money.

COVID of course was a game changer in the industry. It hit us hard like many others and most of us worked for free as I only work on commission. If you do not travel, I do not make a dime. But it was something the whole world went through so you just have to breathe and figure out how to move forward. This was also a great time of reflection for me as I took a step back to really analyze my business structure to find out what was most important to me and my clients. This is when I realized that I lost some of my passion for the industry because it was just a grind. Overwhelmed by the amount of bookings I had coming in and not being the true concierge I set myself out to be. Some bookings that just were not profitable as well. That is when I decided to move to international travel only. It was what I was truly most passionate about. I knew it would bring the joy back to my job and also benefit my clients since it was exciting to me.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Going through a huge personal change and “starting over” in the summer of 2021 was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. You have an idea in your head of what life looks like and what the future may hold and that can change in a day. Running my own business during this time was extremely difficult. Trying to keep my head together emotionally while taking care of clients experiencing some of their highest moments was tough. It was also one of the things that helped me keep moving forward because my business is such a positive aspect in peoples lives. Seeing my clients on vacation living moments they will cherish forever, it’s just a beautiful thing to watch. I immediately booked myself a solo trip to Iceland and decided that I would do the thing that I love most, travel. And I have not stopped since! They always say that beautiful things can come from such terrible storms, I am walking proof.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Referrals! I am so fortunate that I have been able to form such amazing relationships with my clients that they trust me to then work with their friends/ family/ colleagues. I believe it is the best form of advertisement you can have. It shows that your service stood out enough for them to remember you.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ruggedluggagetravel.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruggedluggagetravel/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ruggedluggagetravel/