Monday Minute: Deena Schlosser of Mind My Travel, With Deena

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

Name: Deena Schlosser

Business: Mind My Travel, With Deena

Where do you live? Regina, Saskatchewan  

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

What is your specialty?

For the first year, mostly Caribbean vacations, but I'm now starting to focus more on group trips and customized itineraries. I enjoy working with details and organizing a lot of moving parts.

What inspired you to become a travel advisor? 

I've always loved researching destinations and planning vacations. I was in the legal field for 30 years and felt I needed a reset, so I thought I would take some time off to do something I enjoyed. It was initially just supposed to be a side gig, and I had planned to return to the legal field once I spent a bit of time learning the ins and outs. I honestly wasn't even sure if people used travel advisors anymore! I realized really quickly that this is what I'm supposed to be doing, and I never looked back.

What's the first trip you ever took? 

The first vacation I took that wasn't camping or within Canada was on my honeymoon to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic in 1999. That definitely sparked my obsession with travel. My husband and I have made a point of taking at least one vacation every year since that trip. Now, it's more like four or more a year.

What travel trends are you seeing these days? 

Of course there are always a lot of all-inclusive requests for Mexico and the Dominican Republic. We have very limited options for direct flights from Regina, so those are always popular for Saskatchewan. Last year I had a lot of requests for Europe vacations—Paris, Prague, Greece, Portugal—and bigger bucket-list trips like African safaris. Right now, I'm getting a lot more requests for cruises, which is new for me.

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

I would have to say my first custom Europe itinerary. It was Paris to Prague to Germany and then back to Paris. The areas were fairly new to me personally, and I did a lot of research to make sure I was recommending the best options. I've always loved the research part of planning trips for myself, and it definitely transfers over to my clients' trips as well. The clients were happy with their trip, and I loved seeing all of their pictures and posts along the way.

What's the most memorable trip you ever took? 

I really loved Antigua. The beaches are so beautiful, the locals are all super friendly, and I just loved the overall island vibe. We stayed at two great resorts as well: the Verandah and Sandals.

Where do you see your business one year from now? What are your future goals? 

Over the next year, I see my business continuing to shift toward more group travel and highly customized itineraries, especially guided trips. I love creating experiences where people don't just go somewhere but really experience it, and group travel allows me to do that in a meaningful way.

I'm also focused on growing my local solo travel club, which I started last year. It's not about selling trips or setting people up romantically—it's about creating a safe, welcoming space for solo travellers to connect, talk about travel, share ideas, and feel less intimidated about going on their own. There are so many people who want to travel but don't have someone to go with. I want to keep creating opportunities specifically for those travellers, whether that's small group trips or hosted experiences, so they don't feel like travel is something they have to put off just because they're waiting for the right person to go with.

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

Saying no to unaligned clients! That was really hard at first, especially being newer in the travel business, because my instinct was to say yes to everyone. I've realized how important it is for me, for the client, and for the entire planning process to be a good fit for each other. When there's alignment, the end result is a much better travel experience. Saying no has actually allowed me to say yes to doing my best work.

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

That all advisors would charge fees before starting any work. There really isn't another profession where people are expected to put in hours—or sometimes days or months—of work for free, with the hope that it might turn into paid work later. Most people don't realize how much time, research, coordination, and behind-the-scenes work goes into planning a trip, and I think it's important to educate clients so they truly understand the value of what we do.

I also think there's a big gap in understanding around how to work with a travel advisor in general. Many clients don't know how advisors are paid, or that if a trip doesn't get booked or falls through, that work was essentially done for free.

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

Consistency. Showing up every day, even when it feels like no one is really noticing yet. You can't be successful if people don't know what you do, so being visible and actually talking about your services is huge. Over time, that consistency builds trust, and trust is everything in this business.

What is your motto? 

A cheap vacation is expensive if you don't enjoy it!

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

If you love what you do, shout it from the rooftops. Don't hide your enthusiasm or try to sound like everyone else. Be authentically you—your voice, your energy, your everything—because your people will find you. Not every client is meant for every advisor, and that's okay. People gravitate toward the energy they want in their lives, and when you show up honestly, you attract the clients who truly value how you work.

Where are you travelling next? 

A quick week-long trip with my husband to Punta Cana at the beginning of March. After that, I'll be guiding a G Adventures group trip in Dublin, followed by Trevello's conference in Belfast. I've never been to Dublin or Belfast before, so I'm excited for both the destinations and the experience. Last year was my first conference and I met so many incredible advisors. I've stayed in touch with a few who have really helped me navigate my learning curves in this industry. I can't wait to see them again, meet new advisors, and continue building those relationships—and experience a destination that's completely new to me.

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