Monday Minute: Jessica Abramyk of Jesa Travel

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: Jessica Abramyk

Business: Jesa Travel (Trevello Travel Group)

Where do you live: Airdrie, AB

How long have you been a travel advisor? 

Five years this February

What is your specialty? 

I love to book a balance of exploring and relaxing, with a dash of giving back—all-inclusive packages, small group tours, and custom itineraries to South America and Europe. As for giving back, I plant five trees in Canada for every booking that travels. 

What inspired you to become a travel advisor?

I want to make the world a better place through travel. I believe that by experiencing other cultures we learn empathy for our global neighbours. I also, of course, love to travel and I want to help others have incredible experiences.

What's the first trip you ever took?

Wow, it's hard to remember! Aside from family road trips to British Columbia, I think it was a trip to Mexico with friends in my 20s, followed by a big trip to India and Egypt with family.

What travel trends are you seeing these days? 

Big extended family or friends trips. People want to share their adventures together!  Another trend I'm seeing is requests for trips to less crowded places like Raja Ampat, Sulawesi, Borneo, Naxos, and more off-the-beaten-path destinations. 

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

This past fall I put together a month-long itinerary for some travellers to Fiji. They went to four different islands and stayed at unique accommodations. It was a huge undertaking with a lot of moving parts. They sent me photos afterwards and they are incredible!

What's the most memorable trip you ever took?

One of my first solo trips in my early 20s to Ecuador and Galapagos. It was two back-to-back small group tours with G Adventures. It gave me so much confidence to do that on my own, I made friendships that lasted (still to this day, 20 years later), and fostered my passion for sustainable travel.

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

I want to continue deepening my knowledge of river and expedition cruising. They're very different, but both offer that sense of adventure and meaningful travel that I love creating for my clients. I'm also slowly working toward my B Corp certification, with the goal of submitting my initial application by the end of this year as I keep building a more values-driven business.

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

Being an employer! My business is growing and I realized that I needed help with the client preparation stage after I make their reservations. I hired a local virtual assistant and she has helped immensely. It's like I've cloned myself and I'm now confident that all of my travellers can receive the attention that they deserve.

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

One thing I'd love to change is the amount of glitchy technology in the travel industry. Dealing with tech issues on supplier websites is a daily challenge, and it can slow everything down. If I could wave a magic IT wand and fix those bugs, it would make life a lot easier for both travel advisors and travellers.

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

Be obsessed with your business! Learn how to solve your own pain points and your customers' pain points. Talk to people about it. Have a good website that stands out and is searchable with SEO so people can find you on Google. Your online presence is incredibly important and is often your customers' first impression of your business.

What is your motto?

Explore. Relax. Give back. Life is all about balance!

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

Find your passion. When you're working on the kind of travel that makes you excited, it doesn't feel like work anymore!

Where are you travelling next?

Ireland and Northern Ireland for my host agency's annual conference. I'm so excited for this trip! Our conferences are incredibly valuable, and we get to see some amazing places. Plus, I love Irish accents (and beer)!

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