Monday Minute: MJ Vigeant of All-Ways Travel

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: MJ Vigeant

Business: All-Ways Travel

Where do you live? Williams Lake, B.C.

How long have you been a travel advisor? Almost seven years.

What is your specialty?

Cruising. I have been on nine different cruise lines and love learning the differences about each one so I can match my clients with the best company. I am always asked which one is my favourite. I don’t have a favourite – it depends who I am travelling with, which makes the difference.

What inspired you to become a travel advisor?

My travel agency was founded in 1978. It has gone through many owners over the past 45 years. I purchased the business in Oct 2017. I come from construction, with a trucking background, and I decided I needed to change my career after 25 years. Travel is my passion. My youngest daughter was already in the travel industry and was working for the agency we purchased. It was a perfect fit for learning the industry and starting my new career.

Only owning the business for a short time, I then got hit with COVD. But I held true to the business and helped everyone get through and the company survived. After COVID, I was down to one employee (my daughter) as the others decided to go off on their own. I continued taking courses and learning everything I could to keep rolling.

What’s the first trip you ever took?

One of my first trips was to an all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic, which was also the most memorable. I knew then that we were never going to stop travelling. Travel makes people better. They see and learn different cultures and lifestyles, they see that the world has a lot to offer.

What travel trends are you seeing these days?

My favourite clients are first-time travellers. I love making their first travel experience one they will never forget. There seems to be a lot of new travellers and last-minute travellers since COVID. I think people have really changed the way they view their time and money.

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

One of my favourite bookings involved planes, trains, automobiles and hotels and an incredible Globus tour on the east coast. Lots of parts and very happy clients in the end.

Where do you see your business one year from now?

We will continue to be true to ourselves and our clients all the while growing and bringing a new full-time travel agent into our business.

What is your motto?

Our motto in our office is to treat all people with care and patience and to be genuine. We are an agency that is trusted and true.

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

To anyone getting into this profession, make it a profession. Dedicate yourself. Don’t look at it as a sideline gig.

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

I think the last thing I was excited about was learning about ACV's tours (Thanks, Anna. You rock. What a great option).

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

I feel the biggest problem in the travel industry is the lack of professionalism. They are letting anyone be a travel agent. As an agency owner, we are not just combating the internet, but also hundreds of part-time people. Agents with little or no training are taking up a lot of our suppliers’ time, so we are now on hold for hours. Some suppliers are starting to see this and are putting charges in place. They are also taking up space on FAMs from agents that are working full time and need this experience. I really hope this will change in the very near future.

Where are you travelling next?

I am off to Travel Market in Fort Myer this September. This is a great event for travel agency owners to learn and grow from. I am also treating myself to, you guessed it, another cruise out of Fort Lauderdale.

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