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

Virginia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to start by getting your thoughts on what you are seeing as some the biggest trends emerging in your industry

Travel advisors are more important than ever in helping luxury travelers plan their trips. We can help with everything from finding the right accommodations and activities to booking flights and transportation. We also provide valuable advice on where to go, what to do, and how to stay safe.

Some trends I want to call out specifically:

– Personalized, tailor-made itineraries: Luxury travelers are looking for experiences that are tailored to their specific interests and needs. This means working with a travel advisor to create a custom itinerary that takes into account their budget, desired activities, and travel style. It’s really those bespoke experiences that differentiate what we do (ie: going into a families home in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and having traditional tea, along with a guide and translator).

– Wellness and holistic travel: Travelers are increasingly looking to prioritize their physical and mental wellbeing while on vacation. This includes activities such as yoga retreats, spa treatments, and wellness-focused culinary experiences. We work with some incredible wellness resorts all over the world from Bali, the US, Thailand and more.

– Sustainable and eco-friendly travel: Travelers are becoming more aware of the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways to make their trips more sustainable. This includes choosing accommodations that are environmentally friendly, and participating in activities that promote conservation.

– Private travel experiences: Luxury travelers are increasingly looking for private travel experiences that allow them to avoid crowds and have more control over their itinerary. (Covid made this especially more popular). Lily Pond Luxury can charter private jets, or yachts, as well as book private villas for our clients.

– Multi-generational travel: More and more families are traveling together, and luxury travel advisors know which locations and activities make the most sense for families.

Virginia, 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?

Yes of course! I have had a career in the travel industry since 2008. I’ve worked for brands like Hyatt, Marriott International, Autograph Collection, and more. While I was always on the corporate side of the business, 3 years ago Lily Pond Luxury founder, McLean Robbins (longtime friend and former colleague) reached out about joining her team as an advisor and I jumped at the chance to get back into the travel industry in a new capacity.

I love curating unique itineraries for my clients. For me, it’s about the creativity and the “surprise and delight” moments that make this a dream job. Whether it’s surprising a client with a photo of their puppy framed next to their bed at the Four Seasons Maui, or arranging for a client to enter a villager’s home in Vietnam and play traditional Vietnamese music with them, it’s all incredibly exciting. Each client has unique wants and needs, and we create custom itineraries to fit those needs.

There is also an element of trust and safety between us and the clients. They know that they will be taken care of if they plan a trip through myself and Lily Pond Luxury. I take that element of trust very seriously, and all experiences are pre-vetted by our team to ensure our clients get the most high-end experience possible.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

I have had a 15 year corporate Marketing career. Three years ago, I started as a luxury travel advisor as my side hustle. Most people would say starting a travel business in 2020 was a terrible idea. But for me, it was great. I knew this was a career I could see myself doing for many years to come so investing in training and educating myself on the discipline was most important to me. There are millions of different ways to plan a trip and taking the time to learn how to navigate the best ways was a worthy investment. I planned my first trip for clients in February 2021 – a girls trip to Turks and Caicos, an island that was very Covid safe. Since then, I have done hundreds of trips for clients all over the world. In March 2023, I was impacted by the Tech Industry layoffs and quickly pivoted to doing my travel business full time. I hired a business coach in May 2023 to help me streamline my processes, evaluate my client intake process, better understand my costs and finances, and determine how I can continue to build a strong sustainable business. As a result, my business up 245% year to date. I’ve been able to scale via social media, especially leveraging my LinkedIn network and Instagram (also using TikTok for inspiration). Referrals bring in the largest part of new business.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

Being a luxury travel advisor is a high-touch, white glove type service. Here are a few ways that I keep in touch with clients to maintain loyalty:

– I have a running list of my return clients and/or clients who have sent me the most referrals
– I regularly message clients when I am on site visits (touring hotel properties) when I see something that I know they would love. I always message them photos and get super specific on why I know they would love it. It’s so important that you know your clients preferences. For example, one of my clients loves when her hotel has Dyson blow dryers. So I’ve made it a point to start memorizing all of the hotels in the world that offer this amenity. Know your clients and they’ll keep returning.
– For the clients who have sent me many referrals, I always take them to lunch or send holiday gifts to show my appreciation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lilypondluxury.com/virginia-moore
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travelwithvirginia/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginiarmoore/