Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Wood.
Hi Jennifer, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story begins with a passion for travel. I love to experience new places and immerse myself in the culture and customs of the people I meet. It gives me a sense of purpose and meaning to broaden my awareness of the world and elevate my self-awareness. I love to share my first-hand experiences and passion with my clients through their trip planning. I have a very long bucket list that I plan to complete in my lifetime! With a passion for travel also comes the hard work it takes to plan the perfect trip. Even before I thought of becoming a travel advisor, I planned detailed trips for my family. It’s the little details about a trip that I love to research and plan. Such as figuring out how to maximize my time in a city before I depart on a cruise or arrive early for an international trip; what are the “hidden gem” restaurants that all the locals love? Or how to pack a carry-on for a seven-day trip to Italy in the middle of winter. My family and friends always tell me, “You should be a travel agent; you plan the most amazing trips!” From this repetitive and positive feedback, I turned my passion for planning travel into my career.
I’m a working mom with three amazing kids, ages 15, 14, and 10. As any working parent will tell you, it’s exhausting to work and keep up with the demands of daycare, sports, homework, and showing up to be the best parent you can be. After college, I became a licensed title agent with the State of Florida and coordinated commercial and residential closings. The hours were grueling and demanding, and I can’t tell you how many times I missed my kids’ school activities because I had to work in the office. At the end of my career of 18 years. I worked over 10 hours a day and even had a cot in my office for my kids to hang out in so I could work. My amazing husband was growing weary (and rightfully so) as he was also working and becoming the primary caretaker. I was an emotional wreck and felt utterly disconnected from my family. I was at my breaking point and knew something had to change fast! I started to focus my energy on the next steps on my journey, and what felt natural and gave me joy and happiness. My passion for travel was always the defining motivation, so I started to find ways to take that love and make it my career. I found a travel agent coach who taught me how to be a fantastic travel advisor and create, manage and scale the six-figure travel agency I have today.
Fast-forward to today, and I am living my dream of sharing my passion for travel with the world! I make my own rules not only for my business but for my personal life. Now when I work hard, I’m the one who reaps all the benefits. I can attend those important events in my kids’ lives because I make my schedule. Do I still work long hours and devote myself to my career? Yes! But I feel great about it allowing me to live the life of my dreams. Who else gets to travel and work at the same time? I love my work-life balance now. I’m traveling the world often with my family, sharing my experiences, and helping my clients plan the trip of a lifetime.
You wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
Not at all! Shortly after I decided to pursue my career as a travel advisor, the world started to shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Trips were being canceled, tour operators and vendors closed, and many travel agencies left the business. I was terrified! I thought to myself, “What in the world are you going to do? Your entire business plan is built on selling travel.” But I knew that we would eventually recover from it and travel would bounce back strong; that was at the end of 2020. Then 2021 rolled on through, and it was still ongoing. I had so many people question my decision, but I remained steadfast. As vaccines were rolling out, the travel restrictions were rolling back. I saw a glimmering hope that we were slowly making progress. That’s when I started to travel again personally. I knew it was my job to show people my personal experiences with travel during the pandemic. From flying, testing, and being in a destination, I shared my journey. Many people told me they loved getting an inside look at what to expect when they travel. Fast-forward to 2022, and most destinations have wholly removed any travel restrictions. The travel demand is high, and since we took the time to prepare for it during the pandemic, we have been able to help so many people plan stress- and worry-free luxury vacations.
As you know, we’re big fans of Dune Lakes Travel. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
I am a luxury travel advisor and agency owner of Dune Lakes Travel. Our clients are busy, working professionals who need more time and patience to plan the high-end travel experience they desire. They want exclusive and intimate access, world-class gourmet dining, upscale private tours inclusive of cultural immersion, luxurious accommodations, and first-class transportation. My team and I plan hyper-curated, luxury vacations that are seamless, stress- and worry-free. Every trip we plan is completely customized to our client’s travel needs, and our work is not pulled out of a brochure or a simple point-and-click website. People are increasingly looking for the personalized service they’ll get when working with an agent. We save you time (people spend an average of 20 hours searching for a vacation online, visiting up to 35 sites!) and save you money. As a travel agency, we often have access to pricing that you, as a consumer, need access to.
Additionally, we have connections across the globe. These connections and relationships are essential in providing trusted and vetted recommendations to our clients. Finally, we will advocate before, during, and after travel. If there is anything you need, or if an issue arises, you can rest assured that we’ll see it through to resolution.
Did you know that Expedia and Travelocity are both travel agencies? Ask anyone who booked with these online travel agency companies and was caught in the mess of cancelations during the pandemic what their experience was working with them. Why not work with a travel agency that is local, personalized, and will get on the phone with you to answer any questions you may need or help you if a problem arises during your trip? We set ourselves apart from these companies by delivering superior customer service and building lifelong relationships with our clients. And continually building on our knowledge of destinations through continuing education and fam trips (familiarization trips, a trip where we visit the destination and vet it for our clients). And offering the latest travel technology (we have an app for our clients’ benefit that allows them to access their itinerary and travel documents 24/7, allows them to chat directly with their advisor, and gives them updated flight status notifications. Including modifications such as gate changes and allowing them to share their trip with family and friends) to make our client experience highly personalized.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check?
I practice mindset and positive affirmations every day. It helps me keep focused on my current and future goals. My go-to books are Gabby Bernstein’s “The Universe Has Your Back” and “Super Attractor: Methods for Manifesting a Life Beyond Your Wildest Dreams.” I constantly revisit these books when I need inspiration for my next-level goal planning for both my business and personal lives.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dunelakestravel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dune_lakes_travel/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DuneLakesTravel
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmzXbJt1kXSb_fV2GHifHVQ
- Other: https://linktr.ee/jennifer_dunelakestravel
