We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shayla Maddox. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shayla below.

Alright, Shayla thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Folks often look at a successful business and imagine it was an overnight success, but from what we’ve seen this is often far from the truth. We’d love to hear your scaling up story – walk us through how you grew over time – what were some of the big things you had to do to grow and what was that scaling up journey like?

My love for traveling started in 2007, when I traveled to the Bahamas on my first cruise. I enjoyed every moment of it and I told all of my family and friends about it. From that day on, I was asked to organize and plan everybody’s trips. After many years of planning family and friends vacations, I decided to follow my heart and become a travel advisor. When I first became a travel advisor it was not as easy as I thought. I was used to planning vacations for my family and friends because it was very easy and I know what they like. The challenging part was planning a trip for a stranger, someone I didn’t know at all, which was very different because I had to get to know the person/client. Once I got to know them, the fun part was learning and planning their dream vacation.

I remember booking and planning a getaway vacation for my first client. I was very nervous and hoped that I picked the best vacation for them. Once my client returned from Las Vegas, they were so happy with how everything turned out. The success and feedback from my client gave me so much motivation, everywhere I went, I passed out my business cards. I remember my first challenging moment with one of my clients. This client was scheduled to travel to the Dominican Republic for a week. A week before her travel date, I advise the client to complete the e-ticket which is required to enter the Dominican Republic and must be approved before your travel date. The client contacted me while she was at the airport to advise me they will not let her travel to the Dominican Republic because she did not complete her e-ticket for approval before her travel date. The client then asks me “what can I do because she does not want to miss her vacation”. This became a very difficult situation as I was not sure what to do, however, with “every problem, there is a solution”, I contacted my vendor to explain the situation of what was going on and I worked so hard, so the client did not miss her flight and vacation. I had to send over an email to the Dominican Republic Ministry of Immigration to see if they could please approve the client e-ticket immediately. Luckily, they did approve the client e-ticket and the client was able to go and catch her flight and enjoy her vacation. Once the client returned she called me and told me how grateful and thankful she was for me and everything I had done so she could enjoy her vacation. In this business I have faced many obstacles. There have been times I booked a client and then they canceled their vacations or I worked on planning their vacation and then they decided they no longer wanted to take a vacation.

Everything in life and in this business is a learning experience and even when I made a mistake I learned from that mistake, it became a lesson. When I first started as a travel agent , I forgot to add my client airport transportation to her package. I knew it was my mistake, I apologized for the inconvenience and I paid for her airport transportation and gave her a discount on her next vacation package. I never want to lose a client because they are like family and especially on any mistake that I made. So, over the years I have learned and perfected my business management skills on becoming an incredible travel agent. I always make sure I give 100% customer service to all my clients. I continuously improve myself by going to classes and taking online webinar classes because you should always study and learn, to show yourself approved. I always keep all my certifications updated and find the best deals for my clients. How I got my business to scale up, I became a vendor at a pop-up-shops, which allowed me to meet so many people and gained so many clients. I explained what I do as a travel advisor. I have the knowledge and connections to know what are the best places to stay and visit. I work with tour companies so you can have the best experience and to enhance your vacation. I’m here to smooth out any problems that might occur along the way and tailored to the client’s interest. I always aim high so I can have a successful business, so my clients would want to return and refer me to their family and friends. I work day and night and I never give up because success does not happen overnight. “We all have the desire to travel, But sometimes we need a little motivation to get our wheels turning” That’ s what I’m here for.

Great Escapes by Shay

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.

My name is Shayla Maddox , the owner of Great Escapes by Shay. I got started in the travel agency business by planning my friend’s vacation. My friend  was able to connect me with her cousin who is also a travel advisor and shared  with her that I had planned her vacation to Jamaica. After receiving a phone call and discussing the ins and outs of the traveling agency business and how to start your own traveling agency,  I prayed on it, thought about it and said yes I will try it. I love planning everybody’s vacations and I also love to travel by myself, so I gave it a try. I have traveled to many places and have lots of experience in the travel industry. Becoming a travel advisor has been the best decision I could have made. I love what I do and it makes me so happy, that my clients are happy because they get to enjoy and experience their dream vacation. I’ve learned based on their vacations and mines, how to be detail oriented and thoroughly understand the ins and outs of organizing a trip.

The type of service that Great Escapes by Shay offers is a full-service travel planning business. I offer customized vacation packages, flights and hotels, luxury villas , excursions, group trips, destination weddings, reunions, concierge and more. I specialize in finding the best deals to the hottest destinations in the world while providing amazing customer service.

One time I had a client leave his driver’s license on the airplane, he called me and asked if I could help him. I contacted the airline company to try to locate the client ID after having no luck. I contacted the airport and I was transferred to the lost and found and I located the client ID. The client was so happy, “he said I know you did not have to help me and I told him I provide top notch customer service”. I’m your travel advisor and I never leave my clients, I’m with my clients from when they book their vacation with me until they return home from their vacation. This means if a client needs me while they are on vacation , I will be there for them to help resolve whatever the problem they may have. I’m most proud of all my certifications that I have completed and achieved and I’m still working on being the best travel advisor for my clients.

I have lots of certifications but I’m very proud of my CLIA certification. I’m certified with CLIA which means I have the knowledge and tools to provide the best service in the cruise industry and book cruises for all cruise lines. I’m certified to book wedding destinations and plan any destination in the world. I’m even a certified Orlando expert which means I can plan a client’s dream vacation to Orlando. I plan vacations out of the country and even in the states.

With a passion for client satisfaction, my #1 goal is to make your next Great Escapes by Shay an experience to remember.

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

My best source of new clients for me has been referrals. I always advise my clients that “the highest compliment I can receive as a travel advisor is the referral of your friends, family and business associates.

That is why I always give top notch customer service ,because if your clients have a great experience they will tell their family and friends. They will also be repeat clients of yours. To get new clients, always pass out your business and tell everyone about your business. I also love being a vendor at pop-up-shops and networking events where you will meet potential clients.

How did you build your audience on social media?

How I built my audience on social media, I try to post a few times a week or sometimes daily, this way people know your business is still active. Ask your followers to share your post then this makes their friends start to follow you. I ordered these vacation vouchers that offer 3 days/2 nights free hotel stay. I would advise my followers on social media to share my post or like my page to win a giveaway voucher. This makes your followers want to share your post because they could win something. If a current client sends me a referral and posts about their vacation experience then I give them a voucher. Tell your clients to tag you about their vacation, this way it allows their friends to see what a great vacation they had and who planned it. Those who are just starting to build their social media and want to build their audience should give away promotion deals. Go live and tell your audience about you and what your business does. Try to post often and ask people to share your page. Make sure your business page is Public.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.greatescapesbyshay.com
• Instagram: greatescapesbyshay
• Facebook: great escapes by shay
• Business Number : 770-250-4097

Image Credits
Stephen Paschal Pamela Tucker Shantrena Baker Nicholas Cousar