Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Shewmake.
Hi Amy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I grew up traveling all over the US and loved it. I have always enjoyed planning travel just as much as the journey itself. I started planning for my family and friends to help take the stress off of their vacations. My husband jokingly told me that I should find a job that allowed me to make money because I spent so much time on it, but I took it to heart. I started working with Simply Magical Vacations because of their love of travel and flexibility to build my own business. I have been a professional travel agent for 8 years and am very fortunate to help others while doing what I love. My goal is to take the stress and time out of planning so families can focus on making memories together.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Of course, everyone immediately thinks about the last two years and how the world has changed. The hardest hit was the travel industry. We were one of the first industries to shut down and one of the last to open. And keeping a travel business open when it was almost impossible to travel was hard. Many businesses did not make it. The Travel Industry is still trying to find ways to open back up and operate while gaining back the lost trust of our clients. People have wanted to travel, but many need to learn how. Finding ways to go on vacation with added health and government regulations has been the biggest challenge for everyone. I never sent a client into a situation I would not personally go through myself. While travel becomes more complicated, if you can be flexible, then it is possible! I frequently traveled through the past two years to show my clients how they could. I also kept up with all the regulations and requirements so they could handle what would be needed.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
A family is a group you were born into or the group you have elected to spend your life with. It can be a group of 2 or a group of 20. I focus on helping families achieve their dream vacations. I specialize in the destinations most families dream about: those trips to amusement parks, the cruises where you unpack once but see multiple destinations or the all-inclusive resorts where you can explore your location in depth. I love building relationships with my clients, where I help celebrate all the major milestones with them and see all the memories they have built together over the years. I also build relationships with the destinations so clients get extra attention and services while traveling. And last, most people think travel agents will cost them more money. But my services are complimentary when booked through me! Hotel Rooms, Car Rentals, and Vacation Packages already have the cost of a Travel Agent built into the price. Many need to realize that they end up paying for an agent whether they use one or not. If a client does use me, they get all of my knowledge and expertise, and the destination compensates me at the end of their vacation!
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory is traveling with my grandparents during the summer to many places throughout the United States. The one that stands out the most is visiting Pike’s Peak in Colorado. It was the middle of the summer, but when we reached the summit, there was a layer of snow on the ground, and flurries were in the air! My brother and I had a snowball fight. On that same trip, we went to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where we ate true sopapillas, which look like pillows made of bread and are served hot and filled with honey. Nothing like the fried tortillas that are commonly served here in Tennessee!
Pricing:
- Complimentary service when booking through me
Contact Info:
- Website: www.alwaysmagicallyyours.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alwaysmagicallyyours/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simplymagicalvacationsbyamy
Image Credits
Rita Thomas for Personal Photo.
