Meet the 1000MTG travel expert - Chrissy

We had the pleasure of interviewing Chrissy and learning about her story of embarking on a career in travel and joining 1000 Mile Travel Group (1000MTG).

Chrissy is a seasoned traveler turned independent Travel Advisor passionate about crafting unforgettable experiences. Chrissy’s journey into the travel industry began over 17 years ago , with the goal of making travel easier for people. With a keen eye for detail and a diverse portfolio, Chrissy specializes in sober/alcohol free travel. She believes fueling yourself with knowledge and having the right support is the secret sauce to the travel industry. A fan of off the beaten path destinations, Chrissy loves visiting La Romana in the Dominican Republic and things everyone should swing by there!

Read on to learn about Chrissy’s career journey to joining 1000MTG. If you are considering joining 1000MTG, learn what made her say yes.

Where did your travel career start and what attracted you to the industry?

I started in the travel industry over 17 years ago because I love to travel and knew that I wanted inspire others to travel as well. My goal is to make travel easier for people, and whether it’s through a quick tip, sharing helpful knowledge and inspiration that leads people to discover a new destination or re-discover one they’ve already been to.

Before joining 1000MTG what was the catalyst for change?

Sustainability is a huge factor in the travel industry. I feel that while environmental sustainability is an extremely important pillar, economic sustainability is equally as important. I have always been passionate about giving back to the destinations that I visit by promoting local businesses including hotel chains that provide equitable jobs for residents and who give back to the communities in general.

What was it about 1000MTG that made you say yes?

I began my career with Andi Mysza and MTravel, a division of Montrose Travel dedicated to Home Based Travel Agents. Since the company has changed hands a few times throughout my career, I’ve worked with a few different account managers. I can honestly say that through these changes I was always able to receive the assistance and guidance that I needed. As a woman, I have always felt empowered with this organization as there have been – and continue to be – strong women throughout the organization. In the past year, I have niched my business down to alcohol free/sober travel. 1000 Mile Travel has an amazing and supportive staff, so the decision to work with them was an easy one.

Tell us a little about your business, what is your niche?

In the past year, I have niched my business down to alcohol free/sober travel.  As both a woman and sober traveller in the industry, I felt empowered to uncover this up-and-coming shift to mindful drinking.  This unsaturated market has presented an exciting opportunity for me as both a travel advisor and travel writer. Part of my job is to explore properties and destinations where the focus is on an immersion in culture and the beauty of the landscape.  As a sober traveler myself, I knew that travel would be different for me and I knew that I was not alone.

What advice would you have for anyone considering becoming an independent Travel Advisor/Business Owner?

If you are passionate about what you do, the rest is easy. 1000 Mile Travel has numerous training programs that will help you to build your business. Read! Fueling yourself with knowledge from industry publications will help to keep you apprised on what’s happening in the world of travel. Also, market your services over your products. Anyone can book online, but what do you as an advisor bring to the table? The answer should be knowledge and support; your travel expertise is the secret sauce to success in this industry.

What’s the best thing about running your own business?

The best part about running my own business is the ability to choose the projects that make the most sense to my goals and passions. Being an expert in this business means traveling and experiencing the journey from start to finish -flight delays, late check-ins and all. I love setting my own schedule and focusing on the areas of this business that I know are important to my clients.

With the ability to work from anywhere, what has been your favourite remote working experience?

I work on every vacation I take – taking pictures, talking to the staff, etc. I begin my day very early, so sitting on a balcony in Aruba listening to the waves or working from my swim up room at the Hilton La Romana have been two of my favorite workspaces. I feel inspired working in warm tropical climates!

 

How has technology played a role in transforming the way you manage and organize your travel business?

Technology has played a major role in my business. I use my social media accounts quite a bit as they have helped me connect with my ideal clients especially in the sober community. I am currently hosting a Virtual Showcase with Celebrity Cruises regarding my It’s All Greek to Me Alcohol Free cruise to Greece. Celebrity Cruises, as well as my other suppliers, have been an amazing source of support for my business.

As a part of 1000MTG, how has the community of travel experts supported and enriched your professional journey?

There are so many phenomenal people who work for 1000 Mile Travel, so the expertise that was provided to me has helped my travel business. I see agents who were there from the beginning of my career and who stayed through the company changes, so you can see what a great support system is in place. The Facebook groups are a great source of knowledge for travel agents. It’s a place where agents can ask questions of other experts.

What challenges have you faced in your travel career, and how has becoming an independent Travel Advisor helped you overcome them?

The challenges I have faced over the years were in the realm of client reach. By that I mean obtaining new clients; technology has played an important role in both research and obtaining new clients in the past year.

My biggest achievement would be my sobriety and the transition into alcohol free travel. Researching the destinations and properties that offer zero free spirits as well as activities that aren’t centered around the consumption of alcohol has been so inspiring and honestly a lot of fun!

If there is one place in the world people should visit, where is it? And why should they visit?

I’m a huge fan of off the beaten path destinations. I think that one place people should visit is La Romana in the Dominican Republic.  While Punta Cana is a fan favorite, many don’t know about this gem which is located on the Caribbean side of DR.  For us beach lovers it means no seaweed!

Find out more about Chrissy or book your next trip with her here.