Today we’d like to introduce you to Porsha Hillman.
Hi Porsha, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have always loved traveling since I was little. My parents would always take us to different places around the country on spring & summer breaks. I never noticed how much I loved traveling until my last year of college at Valdosta State University, where I did a study abroad program in Costa Rica. We stayed with a host family and took classes where we could only speak Spanish. I was submerged into the culture, and I loved it.
I graduated and started working at an insurance company, and I decided that I wanted more out of life than just sitting at a desk. That’s when I decided to become a travel agent! Even though I started right before the pandemic, I don’t regret anything, and it was the best decision I ever made for myself. The pandemic gave me time to learn more about the business and prepare for when people started to travel again.
In 2021, I had gross sales of $145,000, a total of 138 travelers and the top destinations were Cancun, Jamaica, Punta Cana, and Las Vegas. I am ready to take on 2022!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
With success comes bumps in the road. I don’t believe that there will ever be a smooth road to success. Some of the struggles I had were cancellations due to the pandemic. I had already booked a few trips for clients a month or two into becoming a travel agent, and due to the virus everyone was canceling. With cancellations, we do not receive commission. There were months where I was like “Do I really want to do this? No one is traveling anymore”, but I kept going. I took more training classes and broaden my horizons for when the travel surge came back, and I’m glad I did!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Endless Adventures with Porsha is a travel agency geared towards helping others make life-long memories at a reasonable price. I pride myself in customer service and provide the best customer service to all clients new & old! I specialize in Caribbean vacations, but I do not limit myself to just that area. I have done trips to Egypt and Thailand, and I am currently working on a vacation to the Greek Isles. Most of my packages include flight and hotel unless stated otherwise. I also offer cruises and hotel only packages.
I know that planning a vacation is hard financially and mentally, especially with a group. For this reason, I provide a flexible payment plan on all trips that are booked more than 45 days in advance. This takes the stress of needing to have all the money upfront, and it takes the stress off clients because I am their liaison for the trip.
I put great thought into the quotes I provide! My mindset is “I will not quote my client anything that I wouldn’t do myself”. If their budget is a little on the lower side, I will advise my client of the situation before quoting them. I love what I do and want my clients to have the best experience!
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I do have a mentor! Her name is Marissa Daniels, and this is who I contacted to start my travel business. She is very supportive and helpful. She has created a Millennial travel agent Groupme for all of her travel mentees and we bounce ideas off each other everyday.
I would definitely have to give credit to my friends and family as well. Without them, I wouldn’t have as many clients as I have now. They are always sharing my posts on Instagram and mentioning my business in conversations. I have a great support team behind me, and I love them!
Pricing:
- Research Fee starting at $45
Contact Info:
- Email: letsgotravelporsha@gmail.com
- Website: www.endlessadventureswithporsha.com
- Instagram: @eaptravel
