We recently connected with Marissa Waiters and have shared our conversation below.

Marissa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you take vacations? How do you keep things going – any advice for entrepreneurs who feel like they can’t step away from their business for a short vacation?

As a travel advisor, I have to take vacations! Not only is it a time for leisure, but it is also considered “market research” for my clients. When selecting resorts to provide to my clients, I have to ensure that I’m providing a property that I have knowledge of. Of course I haven’t had the opportunity to visit every property, but it definitely helps if I can suggest one that I’ve personally visited. Plus, compared to other e-commerce businesses, travel is our product. In order to sell our product, we have to take advantage of it!

Marissa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an experienced travel agent, avid traveler, and founder of Spread Your Wings Travel Agency (SYW). SWY was founded in 2019, prior to the pandemic, during a time of need. Marissa realized that she needed another source of income, and she decided to invest into a business that she was passionate about, enjoyed, and would ultimately make her money by doing something she loved doing.

I am passionate about delivering the best results for every client always. As a travel advisor, I find every aspect of my job to be satisfying and a pleasant learning experience. In my early career years, I have succeeded in organizing trips and creating streamlined travel plans for people. I understand that traveling is a major part of daily living. From busy professionals to leisure travels, I take pride in saving people the efforts of planning their trips. As the pioneer of this millennial travel agency, I am dedicated to delivering top-notch services at an affordable price, which is guided by transparency and honesty.

My clients find me to be knowledgeable, resourceful, and passionate about my job. Like every travel advisor, I value my clients and desires to assist them in making informed travel decisions. I am also experienced at helping travelers tailor their budgets while visiting remarkable destinations.

I find the travel industry to be a notable field where I can serve people diligently. I am delighted to meet new people and nurture lasting business relationships.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

I quit my federal government job in June of 2022 to become a full-time travel advisor. You’re probably thinking, “Why would someone want to quit their job to become a full time travel advisor when we’re just getting over the pandemic?” Crazy, right?

I thought hard about the decision to leave because of the amazing benefits my job provided for me. I was comfortable, I had security, and I was with the company for 6 years! However, once I started to DOUBLE, and some months TRIPLE my monthly salary from my job, it was a no-brainer.

Not only was the money a determining factor, but the time and flexibility is what sold me on the decision. I now have the time to travel when and how I want, speak to clients during the day (not only after 5pm), close more sales, and cater to my clients in a way I haven’t before.

Have you ever had to pivot?

There are plenty of times in this business where you have to pivot and think quick on your feet. When selling airline tickets, you unfortunately run into flight cancellations and changes at times. At those times, you have to learn how to one, stay calm! If you’re not calm, your client won’t be calm either. Two, you have to understand that the flight cancellation/change IS NOT YOUR FAULT. It can be easy to put the blame on yourself because ultimately, you booked the client for that flight, but you have to realize that this is the airline’s doing and it’s completely out of your control.

Contact Info:

• Website: sywtravel.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/spreadyourwingstravel
• Facebook: Spread Your Wings Travel Agency