Monday Minute: Shauna Vu of Travel Best Bets

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: Shauna Vu

Business: Travel Best Bets

Where do you live? Port Coquitlam, B.C.

How long have you been a travel advisor? 

28 years and with the same company. I am very lucky to have found such an amazing woman to work for and company full of wonderful people! I really love coming to work every day.

What is your specialty?

Beachy, all-inclusive, customized Europe. I can also get really creative when it comes to difficult air itineraries.

What inspired you to become a travel advisor?

I travelled to Europe on my own, a month after my 19th birthday, and I knew travel was something I wanted to pursue.

What’s the first trip you ever took?

My first real trip was when I was 10 years old and it was a family holiday to Disneyland, San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld. I was pulled from the group and kissed by a seal at SeaWorld, which is one of my fondest travel memories.

What travel trends are you seeing these days?

Clients want to be comfortable and pampered. I have seen a major increase in business class bookings.

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

I have many. Especially for destinations you know very little about. There’s a lot of research and learning you have to do to make the trip great because, after all, the client is depending on you!

The trip I am most proud of was for a customer who is a paraplegic, had recently been married and her mom reached out to us in desperation as they had been trying to plan her honeymoon and were getting nowhere due to her special needs.

Accessible travel can be really challenging – especially in Mexico. It takes a lot of calling, a lot of emailing and a lot of persistence. The trip turned out to be everything they expected and more. They were so grateful!

What’s the most memorable trip you ever took?

I was honoured to be invited to sail on the Disney Wish inaugural voyage with my son who at the time was eight. It took us 21 hours to get to Orlando, door to door. Seeing what a travel trooper he was through flight delays and layovers, and then to see the awe in his eyes once we boarded the ship, was something I will never forget! It was a very special trip.

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

To try and shift some of my existing customers to a more luxury level of travel.

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

Part of my job is to know, or know how to figure things out, when I’m called upon. I have gotten really good at doing just that…figuring it out! Not sure if that is a skill or not, but I am learning something new every day.

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

Name corrections should be easier and cost less. If it is a legitimate error or typo, the airline should allow us to simply correct the name. Some do, but most do not. Usually, it’s a cancel and re-book, which can be very expensive.

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

Knowledge is power. Clients expect you to know everything about all destinations and travel types, but even the most seasoned agents are still learning. So, do your trainings and travel!

What is your motto?

Be kind and understanding.

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

Listen! Listen to your clients. Ask them questions, engage them in conversation. Be willing to make any trip a possibility!

Where are you travelling next?

I’m undecided. However, it will be a family trip with my husband and our son. We all love warm weather and the beach, so it will likely be a cruise or an all-inclusive somewhere. Vietnam and Japan are also high on our list.

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