Monday Minute: Stephanie Griffiths of Mangata Escapes Inc.

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: Stephanie Griffiths

Name of business: Mangata Escapes Inc.

Where do you live?

Niagara Region, ON

How long have you been a travel advisor? About eight years.

What is your specialty? 

Destination weddings are the core of my business, along with group travel, honeymoons and all-inclusive vacations. About 95 per cent of what I do is wedding-related travel. Destination weddings are definitely our niche, but my team is incredible, and we handle everything from luxury trips to Europe to family vacations and cruises as well.

What inspired you to become a travel advisor?

I had my own destination wedding in Mexico in 2017 and saw firsthand how overwhelming the travel side can be for couples. I remember thinking there had to be a better way to manage guests, pricing and all the moving parts. That experience is what led me into this career.

What’s the first trip you ever took?

My first big trip was to Mexico when I was 18 for a destination wedding. It clearly stuck with me because it ended up shaping my entire career.

What travel trends are you seeing these days?

Prices are moving much faster than they used to. Couples will get a quote and wait a few weeks, and the price can easily jump by a few hundred dollars per person.

Because of that, I’m seeing more urgency around locking things in earlier, along with greater flexibility. Couples are open to adjusting dates, destinations and even resorts to make things work for their group’s budget.

For weddings specifically, it’s becoming less about one day and more about the full experience, with longer stays, welcome events and a greater focus on the overall guest experience.

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

The ones I’m most proud of are the larger wedding groups that come together seamlessly. Coordinating 60 to 100 guests, multiple room types and different departure cities while keeping everything organized and maintaining a smooth experience for both the couple and their guests is not easy. I had one group in which almost everyone booked at the last minute, and we still managed to get everything aligned and everyone to the destination without any major issues. That’s the kind of behind-the-scenes work I take pride in.

What’s the most memorable trip you ever took?

Club Med La Rosière, hands down. Snowboarding from France into Italy just to stop for a fresh pasta lunch was one of those experiences that sticks with you. It’s hard to top that.

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

Right now, I’m focused on building out my team and tightening up our systems so things run smoothly behind the scenes. We’ve recently hired a new operations manager and client experience assistant, and I’m beyond excited about where we’re headed. In a year, I want to be in a place where I’m not stuck dealing with day-to-day bottlenecks and can stay focused on client experience and growth.

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

Letting go of control in certain areas and trusting my team more. Building a team I trust has allowed me to focus more on creativity, client experience and growth instead of trying to control every little detail.

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

I wish agents were more supportive of each other and that the industry felt less cutthroat at times. There’s enough business for everyone, and I think newer advisors, especially, would benefit from more collaboration, honesty and people being willing to help each other grow instead of constantly competing.

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

Passion creates organic growth. Not everyone is your ideal client, and once you realize that, you waste a lot less time.

What is your motto?

Keep your head down and sell. What other people are doing in the industry isn’t important. 

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

Don’t try to do everything. Pick your niche and get really good at it.

Where are you travelling next?

I’m writing this from Punta Cana with my kiddos.

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