Today we’d like to introduce you to Sanja Pangracije.
Hi Sanja, 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 journey in agency started over 12 years ago, and it became a big part of my life. From travel agent, I became marketing manager, program developer, and program manager but most important I started to travel. Today I am not just a traveler, today travel is my way of life and most precious part of my life because traveling around the world, meeting new people, cultures, different ways of life had really opened my eyes and I see life in another color. Travel changed how I think, the way I move forward, and how I see others.
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?
O no, travel is never a smooth road 🙂 we have many challenges and struggles on the way.. My first job was in mobile phone industry so that was a pretty big turn around and a lot to learn.
The biggest challenge was COVID, and that was a big impact on travel business, but I have to say that I am proud of how we couped during this hard time. But, even now we have challenge with strikes, cancelled flights, lac of staff at airports so we need to manage of all that and keep our clients satisfied. For me, personally, becoming a travel agent and moving forward was really a smooth road. You need to learn a lot and you need to have desire to learn because travel business is something that changes every day so you need to be able to keep up with changes, regulations, rules etc.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Suncana vura stared as a little travel agency over 30 years ago. In this 30 years period, Suncana vura managed to become important partner, not just in Croatia but in EU and USA. We have a long-going cooperation with Carnival Cruise Line, Apollo, and many other cruise business partners with strong connection to corporate business in Croatia and EU. Through all of these years, we have managed to incorporate all sorts of travel in our business not just corporate although corporate business is still the strongest branch in our agency. We organize everything from plane tickets, hotels, transfers, tours, etc. The other part of our agency is focused on student programs like AuPair, Work Abroad, and Work & Travel USA, which is our the best program for students. We have a lot of partners in USA for Work & Travel, but one of the most respectful is definitely Intrax. Intrax had offered support and help from our first step in Work & Travel program, and over the years they became one of our most valuable partners. They recognized our potential, and they helped us to grow in this, so today we are one of the best Work & Travel agencies in Croatia. Now we are working together with Intrax and Ayusa on Internship and Trainee USA, and it seems that is going to be our new breakthrough.
I have to mention the owner Elica Osvald who made all of this possible. She is a person who thinks outside a box, and she is the one that have opened my views as well. She makes sure that all agents are involved in business that they do and to have personal experience in this part of business so that makes us all highly qualified as travel agents since we are able to give advice, help to prepare everything, everybody knows little tricks and tips that we can offer to our clients. That was especially recognized in Erasmus programs, and that made us one of the leading agency with Erasmus in organizing transfers and plane tickets for schools involved.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
If you want to be a successful travel agent, you need to love to travel and involve a lot of yourself in this business. Most people in travel business are cold, just doing their work, but if you offer just a little bit, more results can and will be great. People today miss this personal relation and you, as a travel agent, need to approach to people with smile and make sure that you make their travel special because that is something special, and they will always appreciate every advice, help, and support throughout this. O, and one more important thing – there are no stupid questions, just stupid answers. Keep in mind that you are going to have people that travel for the first time, and you are responsible to help them every step of the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://suncanavura.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workandtravel.sv/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suncavura
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SUNCANAvura
