Today we’d like to introduce you to Nita Cooper.
Hi Nita, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have been an entrepreneur for 20 years. “Life” forced to me to close my educational learning center and switch career paths. I was presented with the opportunity to become a caregiver to someone who is very close to me. I could no longer operate my school and be a caregiver. I had to decide as to what direction I wanted to go career-wise because I was determined to be there for this person in their time of need. My first job out of college was in the hospitality industry and I enjoyed working in this field. So, I decided to return to travel and tourism. Being the Travel Director of Stars N Skyes Travel® allowed me to work from home while continuing to see the world through the eyes of my clients. I closed the doors to my learning center, set up an office in my home, and started my new travel business while being a caregiver. My oldest child is named Star and my youngest is Skye. It was important to me that they have a presence in the business. Therefore, I named my agency after my girls.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it has not been a smooth road. The biggest challenge for us is competing with other online travel sites and big-box companies. People are quick to say I will do it myself and book online. In addition, the travel industry took a hard hit in 2020 due to Covid. I did not think we would survive, but we are still here.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Stars N Skyes Travel?
With extensive first-hand travel experience, Stars N Skyes Travel® is the unbeatable choice for your next adventure. Whether you’re looking for a solo trip, a romantic getaway, or a family memory in the making, we have packages to fit all needs. With each new client, we are committed to providing personalized, truthful, and accessible service. And with a passion for the job, we’ll make it a fun experience from start to finish. All that you have to do is sit back, relax, and trust that we’ve got you. Stars N Skyes Travel provides you with other resources such as travel apps, budget planners, blank templates, and Covid-19 safety. We recently published a book, “How to Plan a Solo Vacation and Feel Safe: Shocking Safety Tips, Secret Trip Styles, and Detailed Sample Itineraries.” Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the travel industry has been hit really hard. My travel business is what provides for my family. In this industry, we, as travel professionals, do not get paid unless our clients are able to travel. So, I went from having thousands of people scheduled to travel to nothing on the books. Everyone had no choice but to cancel their bookings. This was a difficult time for me.
After getting over the initial shock, I had no choice but to figure out a way to bring in income for my family. I took some days to grasp what was really happening before deciding that now was not the time to quit. See, this travel thing is not an option, it is a calling. I decided that now was the time to combine my passion of travel with my teaching background and offer online courses and books. Time and time again, I would come in contact with a person, mostly females, who would look at me and say – “I wish I could travel like you.” I would ask them why they couldn’t and would receive the same response: “I have no one to go with.” This concerned me because I didn’t know that so many felt that solo travel was weird or risky. Therefore, I decided to put the steps and my experiences in a workbook to help people feel more confident and comfortable about traveling alone. I hope to inspire more to travel more and worry less, with or without a traveling companion. I gain so much when I travel solo, and now is the time for me to share my knowledge with others. My book is available on Amazon. My company is named after my daughters Kaylen “Star” and Sandi “Skye.” My core value is to fulfill my purpose of introducing people to various cultures and journeys.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
The advice that I always give to those who I mentor or network with is to commit to sharing the knowledge that I am giving to someone else. When I decided that I wanted a career in travel, I looked for someone who was on a level that I was aspiring to be on. I watched every move that person made without them even knowing that I was watching them on social media. I took notes and used what I could to help me to bring my vision to life. Eventually, an opportunity presented itself for me to connect with this business owner. Now, we collaborate and share business tips and clients.
Pricing:
- Individual Vacation Planning Quotes = $50
- Group Vacation Planning Quotes = $150
- Destination Weddings = $500 and up
- Solo Vacation Travel Workbook = $19
Contact Info:
- Email: travel@starsnskyes.com
- Website: https://www.starsnskyes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starsnskyestravel/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starsnskyestravel
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarsNSkyes
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxUe2AzYonnuatLexujJX4Q/featured
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/stars-n-skyes-travel-fayetteville
