How I Became a Travel Agent: The Journey, the Faith, and the Decision to Start
Sometimes the opportunity you are looking for is already being prepared for you—you just have to take the first step.
If you have been following my journey for a while, you probably already know that I love to travel. I love experiencing new places, tasting foods from different cultures, meeting people from different backgrounds, and learning how other people see and experience the world.
But something you may not know is that I never originally planned to become a travel agent.
My journey into the travel business started in 2021, and looking back now, I can see how every little step led me to where I am today.
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My Love for Travel Came First
Travel has always been a big part of my life.
I have always dreamed of traveling around the world, and whenever I travel, I love bringing my children along. For me, traveling isn't simply about visiting beautiful destinations. It's about creating memories, experiencing different cultures, meeting people, trying new foods, and seeing life from different perspectives.
I also played basketball at the amateur and professional levels, including during college, so traveling was already a regular part of my life.
Still, becoming a travel agent wasn't something I had seriously considered.
That changed in 2021.
The Experience That Changed Everything
At the time, I was working as a booking agent for Holland America Line, a cruise line company.
As I worked with guests, I began noticing something that really stood out to me.
People would call because they couldn't reach their travel agents.
Some didn't know what to do with their reservations. Others needed help booking excursions, adding flights, arranging additional travel services, or making changes to their vacations.
And many of them couldn't get in touch with the person who had originally booked their trip.
The more calls I received like this, the more I started thinking:
Where are these travel agents? Why aren't they taking care of their clients?
At the same time, I was learning more and more about the travel industry.
Because I was receiving some complicated calls, I had to learn quickly. Even though I was relatively new, I found myself figuring things out and helping people with issues that I wasn't necessarily expecting to handle.
And that's when I made a promise to myself:
If I ever become a travel agent, I will never neglect my clients.
I wanted my future clients to know that if they had a question, they could call me, text me, or email me. I wanted to be someone they could depend on.
That commitment became one of the foundations of my travel business.
I Started Researching
Once the idea of becoming a travel agent got into my head, I couldn't stop thinking about it.
I started researching.
I wanted to know what it would take to become a travel agent. I looked online and tried to understand the requirements, the costs, the training, and how people actually built travel businesses.
I came across different opportunities, some of which required significant fees, and I wasn't sure which direction to take.
But I kept researching.
And then something interesting started happening.
Travel agents would call in while I was working and I would help them with their clients' reservations. After I helped them, some of them would say things like, "You did such a great job. I wish I could get an agent like you every time I called."
More than once, I heard that I would be good at this business.
Those conversations gave me even more confidence.
I started thinking:
I can do this.
Then Someone Gave Me an Opportunity
One day, a travel agent called in with several reservations that needed to be handled.
I helped him with everything he needed.
Afterward, he told me that if I was that good at helping with travel reservations, he thought I would make a good travel agent.
Then he said something simple:
"If you ever want to become a travel agent, give me a call."
That was it.
But for me, it felt like an opportunity.
I took his number.
After work that day, I called him and reminded him of our conversation. I told him that I was interested and wanted to know what it would take to get started.
He explained that he owned a franchise and could bring me into the business as an agent. I would receive training and operate my business under his franchise.
There was an investment involved, and I knew I would have to invest in myself.
But I was ready.
I Invested in Myself
After some back-and-forth and waiting for the details to be finalized, I learned what the initial investment would be.
It was a significant amount of money for me at the time.
But I didn't hesitate.
I had already made the decision that I wanted to do this.
I saw it as an investment in myself and even thought of it as an early Christmas and birthday gift to myself—a new business and a new beginning.
Once everything was set up, I made my payment and received access to the training program.
And then the real work began.
The Training Was Serious
I studied.
A lot.
I had to complete self-paced training and learn how the business worked. I wanted to learn as much as possible in the shortest amount of time.
I studied in the mornings.
I studied at night.
And I worked on my business while still managing my other work.
It wasn't always easy, but I knew that if I wanted something new, I had to make room for it.
The more I learned, the more confident I became.
Eventually, I started working as a travel agent under my former business partner's franchise.
The business was commission-based, meaning I earned commissions from the travel products and services I sold. We had an agreement regarding the portion of my commissions that went toward operating under his franchise.
Now I had the opportunity to build my own clientele.
And that's exactly what I started doing.
My First Clients
In the beginning, I talked about my business everywhere.
I created business cards and handed them out. I told people that I was a travel agent and explained some of the travel options and deals available through my business.
For a while, nobody booked with me.
Then came my first breakthrough.
My children's former pre-K principal, who owned a pre-K program, booked a cruise with me for herself and her family.
I was so excited to help them plan their trip and send them off on their cruise.
Later, she came back and booked an all-inclusive resort vacation as well.
Those early bookings meant a lot to me because they showed me that people were willing to trust me with their travel plans.
My former business partner also referred clients to me from time to time when he was unavailable.
Little by little, I kept going.
The Promise I Made to My Clients
One thing has remained important to me throughout this entire journey:
I don't want my clients to feel forgotten.
If someone calls me with a question about their reservation, I want to help.
If I know the answer, I'll give it to them.
If I don't know the answer, I'll find out and get back to them.
I take pride in responding to messages, researching destinations, planning trips carefully, and making sure my clients know what's happening with their travel plans.
My goal is to make the process as seamless as possible.
When someone hires me to help with their vacation, I don't want them sitting around wondering what is happening with their reservation.
That's what I'm there for.
And that goes all the way back to those calls I received when I was working as a booking agent.
I remembered the people who couldn't find their travel agents.
I remembered the promise I made to myself.
And I decided that if God gave me the opportunity to build this business, I would be the kind of travel advisor who was present for her clients.
From Travel Agent to Franchise Owner
For a while, I was balancing my travel business with another business.
Eventually, it became a lot.
I had phones ringing for both businesses, and I had to make some decisions about where I wanted to focus my energy.
As things changed, I found myself focusing more heavily on my travel business.
Then, in 2023, I decided I wanted to take another major step.
I wanted to own my own franchise.
At the time, I knew that purchasing a franchise would require a much larger investment. I didn't have the full amount sitting in my bank account, but I knew I was ready.
So I told my business partner that I wanted to move forward.
I submitted the paperwork to the head office and waited to hear what they would offer me.
I expected that I would need a substantial deposit and would probably have to finance the remaining amount.
But I didn't know what God had already prepared.
God Had a Different Plan
I remember praying and asking God to guide me.
I was thinking about the money I would need and wondering how everything would come together.
Then I received the call.
The business development manager told me that they had reviewed my business, my performance, and everything I had accomplished since I started.
Then they gave me their offer.
And I couldn't believe it.
The amount they offered me for the franchise was the same amount I had originally invested to get started as a business partner under someone else's franchise.
It was even less than the deposit I had expected to need.
I was shocked.
I remember thinking, "Are you serious?"
And they were serious.
That was how I became a franchise owner.
Becoming a Business Owner
Everything was established for me in August 2023, and I officially began my journey as a franchise owner.
I was incredibly happy and grateful.
Looking back, I can see how many seemingly small things came together to get me there.
It started with a love for travel.
Then came a job where I was exposed to the travel industry.
Then came the frustrated customers who couldn't reach their travel agents.
Then came the idea.
Then the research.
Then the unexpected person who told me to call him.
Then the training.
Then the first clients.
Then the decision to invest in myself.
And eventually, I became a franchise owner.
What started as a thought became a real business.
What My Journey Has Taught Me
My journey into the travel business has taught me that sometimes you don't need to have everything figured out before you start.
You just need to make the decision to begin.
If there is something you've been thinking about doing, start researching it.
You don't have to know every answer on day one.
I didn't.
I didn't know exactly where my path would lead.
I didn't know who would help me.
I didn't know how everything would be paid for.
I simply knew that I wanted to become a travel agent, so I started looking for information.
And along the way, the next step became clearer.
Don't Let Fear Stop You
Sometimes we spend so much time thinking about whether something will work that we never actually begin.
We think:
"What if I fail?"
"What if I don't have enough money?"
"What if I don't know enough?"
"What if nobody supports me?"
Those questions can keep us stuck.
Research is important. Planning is important. Understanding your finances and the risks involved is important.
But at some point, you also have to take action.
Pray, Research, and Take Action
For me, faith has been a huge part of this journey.
I prayed for direction.
I asked God to guide me and bring the right people into my path.
But I also had to do my part.
I researched.
I made phone calls.
I invested in training.
I studied.
I worked.
I talked to people about my business.
I followed up with clients.
I kept going.
Faith and action worked together for me.
Today, I'm Still Building
Today, I'm continuing to build my travel business and my clientele.
I work with individuals, families, groups, and travelers looking for different types of experiences.
My travel services include cruises, all-inclusive vacations, tours, excursions, flights, hotels, transportation, day trips, and more.
Whether someone is planning a family vacation, a group trip, a relaxing getaway, or an exciting adventure, I enjoy helping them put the pieces together.
And I'm still learning and growing along the way.
I am also building my real estate business here in Texas, so I'm excited about this next chapter and everything that is ahead.
If You're Thinking About Starting Something New...
This is the biggest message I want to leave with you:
Don't give up on your dream just because you don't know how it's going to happen yet.
Start with what you know.
Do your research.
Ask questions.
Learn.
Look for opportunities.
Be willing to invest in yourself.
And keep moving.
You may not know who will help you along the way.
You may not know where the opportunity will come from.
You may not even know exactly what the next step looks like.
But sometimes the next step appears after you take the first one.
That's what happened to me.
I was researching how to become a travel agent, and the person who helped me get started eventually came into my life through the very work I was already doing.
That experience taught me something I still carry with me:
The way may not always be visible, but that doesn't mean there isn't a way forward.
Don't Let Anyone Steal Your Joy
My journey into travel started with a simple decision.
I wanted to become a travel agent.
I took that desire seriously, did the research, invested in myself, worked hard, served my clients, and kept moving forward.
And look where that decision has taken me.
So, whatever dream you're working toward right now, don't let fear, uncertainty, or the fact that you don't have all the answers stop you.
Take the next step.
Keep learning.
Keep researching.
Keep praying.
Keep working.
And don't give up on yourself.
You never know what can happen when you finally decide to begin.
Thank you for being part of my journey, and remember: don't let anyone steal your joy! ❤️
