“You’re never too old to follow your dreams of running your own travel business” – we all know this intellectually. But sometimes we need a little inspiration to get us to take that first step.
And that’s where these two seniors come in.
Aileen Collins and Lisa Leary are a couple of 60+ personal travel managers currently residing in south Queensland. We recently had the chance to sit down with these two “Golden Girls of Travel” to find out how they got started as personal travel managers and to pick their brains on what it’s like to run their own travel businesses with TravelManagers.
So without further ado, meet Aileen and Lisa, the Golden Girls of Travel who are loving the opportunities TravelManagers has given them.
From L to R: Lisa Leary and Aileen Collins.
What do you girls love about TravelManagers?
Aileen: I owned a tour operating company specialising in S.E. Asia/India with my husband from 1974 to 2004 and at various stages we had offices all around Australia with 15 employees in Sydney. When we sold the business I joined TravelManagers, and the sheer relief of not having to worry about “the business” and being able to devote my time wholly to the joy of planning clients’ trips, with the National Partnership Office (NPO) taking care of the administration, was sheer bliss!
I love the flexibility of being able to do my work from my desk, or using my laptop near the pool, at a coffee shop sipping my fave skinny flat white (volcanic hot!), at the airport jetting off to S.E. Asia, or in a train in India, knowing that I have the back-up and support of the National Partnership Office or my buddy Lisa back in Australia if needed. I also love the TravelManagers family – the endless patience of those in the National Partnership Office, the role that our Business Partnership Managers play in keeping us abreast of what’s happening in the travel industry and ensuring that we are as well-educated as possible. The whole personal travel manager network has endless advice and knowledge when you’re out of your comfort zone.
Lisa: I love being a “Golden Girl” at 60 years of age. After 40 years in the travel industry, always as an employee, going into my own business was daunting. Having the support from National Partnership Office with ticketing, accounting, marketing, IT and product buying power made my transition easier than expected. Along with my buddy and terrific travelling partner Aileen Collins, the support I receive from fellow personal travel managers compliments the ideal home based travel company we are all so proud to be part of.
What drives your passion for travel?
Aileen: I’ve always been interested in different cultures and how other nationalities live, enjoying travel on a grassroots level – local buses, trains, ferries, elephants and camels. I love mixing up accommodation – desert camp one night, palace the next. Every time I put together an itinerary for a client it’s like I’m doing the trip myself and have great pleasure in all the planning
Lisa: Having my own time to work on new enquiries (without the stress of an office environment) has made me confident with my knowledge. I now only deal with loyal clients, who contact me for professional advice and guidance. I enjoy every journey.
How has being a personal travel manager given you the freedom to do the things that matter to you most?
Aileen: What matters most in my life is having a good balance of work, time for family, being healthy and active. Being able to work flexible hours with TravelManagers means that I can do just that.
Lisa: Finding time to enjoy my passions. Living on acreage, I now enjoy more time in my garden (exercise!) without having to drive an hour each way to an office. I also started another side business called “Moo Moo Madness” manufacturing dresses I designed many years ago (creativity). I give Moo Moos to clients as a gift and for referrals.
How do you juggle running a successful business while exploring the world?
Aileen: In 2016 I went overseas nine times, and thanks to TravelManagers’ systems and support I was still able to look after my clients’ needs. I travel with my phone and an Australian sim as well as my Samsung tablet with a local country sim card so I don’t have to rely on wifi and laptop as a back-up device. My “out of office” message says that I am receiving all emails and will reply. I know that I can rely on my travel locum to look after anything urgent I can’t attend to – usually Lisa, but we also love travelling together too! One client said “Aileen, you always seem to be away!” and my reply was “Would you trust a travel agent who didn’t travel?” It’s important to travel for my “expert” badge. Clients always love my Facebook posts and are interested in where I’ve just been.
Lisa: TravelManagers offers many famils, and all travel consultants have destinations they want to enjoy and share. Having the computer tools to work from anywhere in the world via wifi allows me to travel and work online at the same time.
Growing your business – what are your secrets to being successful personal travel managers?
Aileen: I was fortunate to have a good client base when I started with TravelManagers and very loyal clients. One mentioned to me that they had been booking with me for 31 years – from their first trip to Bali in the 80’s riding a motorbike and staying at small losmens around the island to their now more extensive trips to all corners of the globe. Having been in travel for some 43 years, I “inherit” clients through the family tree doing bookings for their children and even grandchildren. As with most personal travel managers, referrals are a growth area. The simple secret is knowing your clients back to front and knowing your destinations and products inside out.
Lisa: I love dealing with loyal clients who contact me for professional advice and guidance. I follow my client’s journeys on Facebook and work together via Messenger when they are away. And if I need marketing help to reach more clients or advice on ways to grow my business, help is always at hand from the national partnership office.
Lastly, what is your advice for other “Golden Girls” out there? Can they too follow their travelling dreams and run a successful business?
Aileen: Is success judged by $$$ or contentment with your life? When you’re older there isn’t the necessity to run around doing a million and one things as you don’t have the same pressures as when raising a family and trying to make ends meet. Success to me is having “enough” money to do what I want, being expert enough to ensure my clients get the best they can from their holiday whilst still having my own dreams to follow.
Lisa: Of course, with TravelManagers our younger personal travel managers can work from home with their children providing a special family unit – so lucky! It is our time as Seniors to grow and share the same professionalism gift in the same environment with grandchildren. Or keep travelling until your time is called.
Are you feeling inspired to take the first step towards joining Aileen and Lisa as Golden Girls of Travel? Then visit www.join.travelmanagers.com.au today and show those youngsters that’s it’s never too late to follow your dreams!
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