Today we’d like to introduce you to Maricarmen Fernández.
Hi Maricarmen, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My career in tourism began unexpectedly. There’s no doubt that when something is meant for you, life finds a way to lead you there.
I spent over 19 years working for various multinational companies, commuting across the city. During that time, I gained experience in several areas, including human resources, communications, administration, social responsibility, and event planning.
While I was working, I planned my personal vacations down to the last detail. My husband and I discovered incredible places together. After each trip, I would return to work and share stories about our adventures abroad. My colleagues would often say, “You should start your own travel agency.” I would just laugh and go back to work, I never imagined that one day, I’d actually make that idea a reality.
Time passed, and my son began to grow. From the time he was a baby, he attended daycare while I worked in an office. When he turned six, several factors helped me reassess my priorities. I made a difficult decision: to leave the corporate world, where I already felt completely comfortable, and take on a new personal and family challenge: caring for my own family while figuring out how to remain financially active.
I began to focus more on my son at home, and at the same time, I started studying to become an insurance agent. I earned my license and began working at a promotional agency. However, I quickly realized it wasn’t for me, the job felt dull and uninspiring. While still working in that sector, I began to think about other possibilities. That’s when the words of my former coworkers echoed in my mind: Why not open your own travel agency?
From that moment it all began. It was late 2018 when a friend offered to help me with all the necessary procedures, while I was thinking about the name of my agency and planning the logo.
My husband helped me with the initial capital so I could cover all the paperwork and other necessary expenses. My cousin, who is a designer, helped me explore several logo options until it was just the way I envisioned it. By March 2019, My Travel Designer officially opened its virtual doors..I was working from home while my son was at school.
I began promoting myself through sales chats on WhatsApp, and step by step, my perseverance and dedication started to pay off. My clients recommended me more and more, and little by little, the business began to grow. But just as things were starting to take off, a bigger surprise was in store: the pandemic arrived.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has definitely not been easy. I’ve had to do absolutely everything on my own. I had no references, no family or friends with a travel agency to guide me, so everything I’ve built has come from my own effort and dedication.
When the pandemic hit, things got even more complicated. All the sales I had planned for that year were canceled, and for three months, I didn’t sell a single trip. That meant no income, while expenses continued to pile up. Still, I didn’t give up. From the very start of the pandemic, I made a conscious decision to stay top of mind with my clients. I knew that when travel returned, I wanted to be the first person they thought of.
Every day, I posted on social media and in chats about what was happening in the tourism sector, how to help passengers, travel requirements, where to get vaccinated, characteristics of the vaccines, and more. I stayed top of mind for my clients throughout that time.
Also, I spent those months rescheduling trips, handling cancellations and refunds, learning international protocols, and navigating the complexities of each airline and destination. I learned more in that time than I ever imagined.
When the time was right, I started planning vaccination trips, making appointments for my clients, planning all the details and then I started to get back to work. My strategy of staying visible and helpful during the hardest moments paid off.
Another aspect that has been somewhat difficult is that I’m a virtual agency; I don’t have a physical office or storefront; I do everything from my home. While I’ve grown significantly through social media, some new clients who don’t know me or weren’t referred may doubt the legitimacy of my agency.
Unfortunately, in this sector, there are many shell companies that commit fraud and harm those of us who truly work and make a living from it. Some clients decide to look elsewhere and go to an establishment, while others do trust me and my work, and of course, in the end, they end up recommending me and being happy with my services.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I’m a woman who loves to travel and pays close attention to detail. I strive to make every journey as easy and enjoyable as possible for my clients. I specialize in cruises and theme parks, but I also create custom travel experiences tailored to each client’s needs, both within Mexico and internationally.
My clients recommend me for the quality of my service. I am attentive to them before, during and after their trip, resolving doubts and providing advice and support when necessary. This is precisely what makes the difference for my clients, since I know exactly where they are and what they are doing every day of their trip.
I’m very proud of the work I do every day, of being able to fulfill my clients’ dreams and make them feel supported throughout the entire experience, making them feel like they’re in the best hands to create unforgettable moments.
Although my native language is Spanish, I speak several languages, allowing me to work with clients all over the world. Feel free to contact me; I can prepare proposals in multiple languages.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Since I was a child, I loved exploring new places, but my family is more traditional, and we used to have the same vacations every year.
To me, the world is like my backyard, and I want to explore it all. When I started working and was able to pay my own way, I started making plans and doing different things.
I’ve always loved languages. I learned English and French in school and then studied Portuguese. I feel comfortable with these four languages.
Later, I started an eight-language course simultaneously: German, Dutch, Italian, Portuguese, French, Chinese, Japanese, and Russian.
I continued for two years and learned quite a bit. However, my teacher had some issues, so I had to drop it. At some point I’ll take it up again.
I believe that languages give us freedom and open countless doors.
I have many exciting plans for My Travel Designer. Life has been guiding me in the right direction, and I feel both happy and fulfilled.
I truly love what I do. These seven years are just the beginning.
Pricing:
- We adapt to our clients’ needs.
- From budget-friendly trips to luxury and ultra-luxury options.
- Let’s talk and put together the perfect plan.
- Booking in advance is the best way to get the best rates.
- We have payment plans to make it easier and exclusive benefits for our followers on social networks.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.agenciamytraveldesigner.com.mx
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MTDesignerMX/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MTDesignerMX/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maricarmen-fernández-48784553
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@MyTravelDesigner?si=4FI4GH6KZ0WT63bx
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mytraveldesigner?_t=ZS-8xU1VKPq7Ps&_r=1
