Monday Minute: Jatin Thakur of Westshore Travel Centre

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: Jatin Thakur

Business: Westshore Travel Centre (part of Travel Masters)

Where do you live? Victoria, B.C.

How long have you been a travel advisor? 15 years in the industry 

What is your specialty?

All-inclusive trips are a big seller. But as an AvGeek (aviation geek), I also specialize in business and first class airfares.

What inspired you to become a travel advisor?

Growing up, most kids around me wanted to become engineers (common in India, where I'm from), but I wanted to do something different. As a kid, we went on family trips every year, and that helped me catch the travel bug. I’ve always loved travelling, and with the help of guidance from a family friend, I decided to pursue tourism management. Since then, I’ve earned three degrees (including a master’s degree) in tourism management. And I’m grateful for that decision!

What’s the first trip you ever took?

As a kid, our family would do yearly pilgrimage trips to Shirdi, India. As a grown-up, my first trip was to New Zealand (for my bachelor’s degree). Though not technically a trip, I did explore New Zealand while I was there.

What travel trends are you seeing these days?

There are quite a few trends emerging in travel habits. Post-pandemic, people are willing to pay higher prices to be able to get away on the trip they deserve. This not only applies to the usual all-inclusive trips, but also to flights. People are flying premium economy and business class on long-haul trips and prioritizing comfort over budget. 

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

This was actually a personal trip. I planned a month-long honeymoon trip flying around the world in business and first class on my favourite airlines and planes. We visited Switzerland, France, Qatar, the Maldives (in an overwater bungalow!), Singapore, India, and Japan. It took a lot of work and planning, and I'm very proud of how the trip turned out.

What’s the most memorable trip you ever took?

There are a few. My honeymoon trip around the world was an incredible experience. But an experience that affected me on a personal level would be the trip to Egypt. The people were very helpful even if we didn’t speak each other’s languages. The country was welcoming, and it allowed me to experience something in person that I had only heard about in the media before the trip. The attitudes and perception were very different in person than what I had heard in the media. I met some incredible people, and I'm still in touch with them.

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

I want to continue being able to work in travel and help people have incredible experiences exploring our world. There is so much to see. I would like to do this alongside travelling more. I’d like to explore and help people explore!

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

I’ve recently learned more about video editing and content creation. I've used these skills in the past, but in the last couple of years, I’ve really focused on them.

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

I would love to create more awareness about the importance of travel agents in this era of online travel portals. There is no substitute for human conversation and the exchange of real ideas and genuine experiences. The best trips aren’t just about the destination; it’s also about the journey of making it possible and the relationships you build along the way.

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

Connecting with people on a personal level. Skills and knowledge can be acquired, but creating relationships with people is what will help elevate your success—and it will mean more to you as well as your clients.

What is your motto?

To help people have memorable experiences.

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

Not everyone needs to be your client. Understanding and acknowledging that you can’t help everyone is vital. If you have a specific set of skills and specialization, use that to your advantage and create a niche client base for yourself. In the long term, it will serve you well.

Where are you travelling next?

A National Geographic safari in Kenya.

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