Community Highlights: Meet Phimphone (Phim) Gilberry of Passion Travel Services

Today we’d like to introduce you to Phimphone (Phim) Gilberry.

Hi Phimphone (Phim), please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story began when my family and I immigrated to the U.S. in the early 1980s as Laotian refugees. I was 11 years old when we arrived, after spending several years in a Thai refugee camp. We were sponsored by a church in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where I spent my pre-teen and teenage years. Having never received formal education before, I struggled to catch up in school and graduated high school with less than a 2.0 GPA, carrying a deep sense of inferiority because of it.

Life took many turns from there. I married my high school sweetheart, and together we raised three daughters. My ex-husband joined the Army to provide for our young family, but after a few challenging years, we moved back to Virginia to reset. That was the moment I found the courage to pursue both work and education. I started working at a well-known software company’s call center while going to college full-time and raising three young children. It wasn’t easy, but I thrived academically—graduating magna cum laude—and earned multiple promotions at work.

Eventually, I transitioned into healthcare, where I built a 15-year career in hospital administration. During that time, as a single mother of three teenagers, I went back to school and completed my MBA through an accelerated program while working full time.

Once my youngest daughter left for college, I felt it was time to follow a new path. I sold my home, paid off debt, and launched my own international tour company. Six months later, I took my very first group to Thailand. Since then, I’ve spent the past eight years leading tours across nearly 50 countries. My business has flourished—earning 5-star reviews on Google, with 80% of clients returning or referring others.

Today, I work about 25 hours a week as an entrepreneur while earning a six-figure income. My next goal is to mentor others to create the same kind of business and lifestyle freedom I’ve built. Outside of travel, I spend my time with my grandchildren at our lake house and caring for my plants. To me, true wealth isn’t just money—it’s time and freedom to live life on your own terms.

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?

The first couple of years were slow, just as I expected. I only had a handful of tours each year and spent much of my time on solo scouting trips. To supplement my income, I worked as a substitute teacher and even drove for Grubhub between travels.

Then disaster struck with the COVID-19 shutdown. A few clients requested refunds, but thankfully most were willing to postpone their trips. Once restrictions lifted, even those who had initially canceled eventually returned to travel with us.

During the pandemic, I spent four months quarantining with a friend in Florida before deciding to settle down a bit. I took on a full-time job, bought a small lake house in Georgia, and have called it home for the past five years. About a year later, my middle daughter and her family moved in with me—three lively boys, now 5, 6, and 7, and later a sweet granddaughter who is now two. My other children and grandchildren remain in Virginia.

Outside of COVID, one of the most difficult seasons came recently when I had to pause travel to care for my father, who was severely disabled and suffered from dementia. It was heartbreaking to watch him suffer, but I am grateful I had the chance to love on him while he lived with me. We lost him this past August, and I am now carrying some of his ashes back to his family in Thailand.

I was always a daddy’s girl, so losing him has been very hard. I credit my work ethic to him and my fearlessness to my mother, who is also battling cancer. It has been an incredibly tough year, but both of my parents continue to inspire the way I live and work today.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Passion Travel Services?
About Our Business
We are an international tour agency specializing in small to medium-sized group travel around the world. Our groups typically range from 6–10 people, though we’ve curated experiences for as few as 2 and as many as 20. Each itinerary is thoughtfully designed around three essential elements: culture, adventure, and exotic beaches. About 80% of our travelers are repeat clients, which speaks to the trust, loyalty, and relationships we’ve built over the years.

While many agencies focus on Europe or U.S. domestic tours, our mission has always been to introduce everyday Americans to destinations across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and South America.

What We’re Known For
We’re known for creating meaningful, immersive travel experiences. Our travelers don’t just visit a destination—they connect with it. My personal favorite destination, and a client favorite as well, is Cuba. It’s a place often misunderstood, but those who travel with us quickly fall in love with its people, culture, and energy. Over the years, we’ve donated more than 100 bags of supplies to schools in Havana, all while supporting Cuban families by staying in Airbnbs, using local guides, and eating at family-run restaurants. Our Cuba tours embody what we do best: blending cultural immersion with giving back.

What Sets Us Apart
We make extraordinary travel accessible. By keeping overhead low, we’re able to offer below-market pricing while still providing comfortable to luxury accommodations, curated excursions, and personalized service. Most of our group tours range from $1,500 to $6,500 per person, and we also offer flexible, interest-free payment plans to make travel attainable for more people.

We also protect the quality of the group dynamic. A positive group vibe is essential, and I’ve been very selective to ensure travelers enjoy a welcoming, uplifting environment.

Who We Serve
Our travelers are primarily between the ages of 35–65, with about 70% being women. We’ve curated countless milestone trips, such as 50th birthday celebrations, girls’ getaways, and couples’ private tours. A recent example is a group of eight ladies heading to Cartagena, Colombia, to celebrate a 50th birthday with a private Airbnb, curated excursions, airport transfers, and a local English-speaking guide.

What We’re Most Proud Of
I’m proud that we’ve grown almost entirely through word of mouth and repeat clients—averaging 20% growth year after year without traditional marketing. Our clients trust us to deliver safe, memorable, and authentic travel experiences, and they become our best ambassadors.

At the heart of it, we take ordinary Americans to extraordinary places, and we do so with heart, affordability, and cultural respect.

What makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is seeing the impact my trips have on people. I’ve had clients tell me their travels with us were life-changing, and I’ve even witnessed tears of joy during our journeys together. Many of my travelers are exploring internationally for the first time, and I love teaching them not to be afraid of people in other cultures. Watching them relax, open up, and truly enjoy the experience often brings me to tears myself. For me, this work is so much more than a job—it’s a calling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.passiontravelservices.com/
• Instagram: Passiontravelservices

Image Credits
All images are mine..