Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Sweet.
Laura, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I decided I wanted to be a travel agent and I acted on it 3 years ago in May 2023. I love to travel and I go to different places pretty often. I like sharing my travel experiences with my friends and others and try to encourage my friends to spread their wings and try new places! I decided that I wanted to help others plan relaxing, wonderful vacations and trips. I went through a series of education and earned a degree in Travel and Tourism from Penn Foster University. I joined our local Chamber of Commerce and a few other professional organizations to promote my business. I have completed a great deal of education and training for a number of travel companies including Disney, Universal Studios, and most of the major cruise lines. I have sailed on 3 different cruise lines and can confidently advise and book clients on their dream trips!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Becoming a travel agent has been a fairly smooth journey. I decided to start out by educating myself so that I was more confident trying to sell my products to the public. I really don’t like to look at this as a sales job. I prefer to look at it as an opportunity to assist people in deciding what they would like do and where they want to go on their own terms. It is very important to me that I do not come off as “salesy” and that my clients are comfortable discussing their situations with me whether it be financial or otherwise. I work with a lot of retirees who are somewhat “afraid” of the Internet and would much prefer to have a professional organize their trips for them, and I am more than happy to do so. I also provide constant follow up and assistance throughout their trip.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Sweetheart Express Travel Agency?
I am a travel agent in the small town of Mason, Michigan. I specialize in all forms of travel, particularly in Disney, Universal Studios, and cruises through most of the major cruise lines. I enjoy working with my clients to establish an itinerary that they are happy with and that will give them the experiences that they want. What sets me apart from others is that I do not look at this as a sales job. I prefer to view this as an opportunity in which I can help people recognize their travel dreams and provide assistance when necessary. I cater to many retirees who do not like to use the Internet and who would much prefer having guidance from somebody professional that knows how to book the vacations that they want to take. Also, if they are unsure of exactly what they would like to do, I love getting ideas from my clients as to what they would like to do and making that happen.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk taking is required for any new business venture. I took major risks by expanding my education and delving into something that I really didn’t have a good grasp on only to find out that this was completely something I wanted to do and enjoyed. I don’t typically view myself as a risk taker but in this case, I felt confident enough to go through with it and I’m so glad that I did! Taking risks is very important, especially as one is navigating a new business, as it challenges you to see yourself in a different light than what you may ordinarily see yourself and provides an opportunity for others to see you differently as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.she-travel.com
- Facebook: Sweetheart Express Travel Agency
