Monday Minute: Britt Jamieson of Travel By Britt

The Monday Minute is a weekly feature in PAX that highlights the movers, shakers, leaders and rule breakers in Canada's travel advisor community. Wanna be profiled? Wanna nominate someone? Email newsroom@paxglobalmedia.com!

Name: Britt Jamieson

Business: Travel By Britt

Where do you live? Calgary, AB

How long have you been a travel advisor? Just over six years.

What is your specialty? I sell a lot of family sun destinations, Europe FIT trips, and groups.

What inspired you to become a travel advisor? 

I have always loved everything about travel – especially the planning portion! So much so that I found myself planning friends and family trips just as a hobby. As my kids were getting older, I wanted a job I could do from home that allowed me to still be with them as teens. I met Tannis Dyrland (of Tisson Travel Group) at our gym and we hit it off instantly! I felt so fortunate that she took me under her wing, and helped me make this career successful.   

What’s the first trip you ever took? 

I was fortunate to have parents that love to travel. My first memorable trip was to multiple locations in Baja California Sur, Mexico as a teenager, before it was common for people to travel there. I loved everything about that trip, the culture, the beauty and the people!

What travel trends are you seeing these days?

I'm seeing a lot of multi-generational trips. People tend to be looking for a bit more excitement than just a beach vacation. European cruising has also been a hot item this year. There has been a tendency to book trips farther out from departure now as people are seeing savings with planning and creating an itinerary further out. I have also seen an increase in group trips, mostly to one country to really explore! 

Of all the bookings you’ve made, which itinerary are you most proud of? 

A three-week trip to Italy for a few close friends. They basically put their trust in me and gave me the reins to plan their vacation. I was able to research every location, find some off-the-beaten-path options, plan some amazing experiences, and find beautiful accommodations. I was so proud of the itinerary I created. And the clients had an amazing trip of a lifetime!

What’s the most memorable trip you ever took?

My most memorable trip to date is definitely a European family trip we took a few years ago. We travelled through the U.K. (with a stop in the city where my husband and I lived when he played professional hockey), Paris, Venice and we did a cruise though Greece, Montenegro and Croatia. We all have very busy schedules with work, school and sports so we often don't have quality time together. We were able to really enjoy being together and explore as a family – memories that we all cherish and talk about frequently.

Where do you see your business one year from now?  

I've been fortunate to experience continual growth in my business year after year, with my repeat and referral clientele keeping me consistently occupied! With my flexible work hours, I am able to continually immerse myself in research for my clients’ trips as well as getting out into the world and exploring myself. To continue with growth in the following years, I prioritize cultivating enduring relationships with customers, offering tailored service, and consistently surpassing their expectations at every interaction.

What’s one new skill you’ve acquired recently? 

That is a hard one, as this last year has been the busiest year to date for me. I would say I have become better at being organized, working through a daily, and weekly list that are sometimes very long and overwhelming. Just staying focused and ticking one thing off at a time!

What’s one thing you would change about the travel industry? 

As travel advisors, we can often feel unsupported by the tour operator, whether it is commission driven or in hold times. With groups, the response time for specific questions is very frustrating and makes us appear unprofessional. I would definitely make this a priority at major tour operators!

What’s the secret to being successful in this business? 

Treating each itinerary like it is my own, and knowing that everyone deserves a great vacation – no matter how small or large the budget. I also feel like my response time is a huge reason I have a long list of repeat clients and referrals!

What is your motto?

To have fun with every booking. It’s the process of learning as you go!

What is your number one piece of advice to other travel advisors? 

You can't know everything about every destination or supplier, but as a group, we can help and provide knowledge to each other. I feel so fortunate to have strong, knowledgeable women surrounding me in this business. Whether it's a quick question that we may have asked a hundred times, or venting about a frustration with a supplier. the support is so valuable. Honestly, I could not do it without them.

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