Today we’d like to introduce you to HEATHER BOWMAN
Hi HEATHER, 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 taught elementary education for almost 20 years. About six years ago, I made the decision to step out of the classroom and no longer teach in a traditional setting. My youngest daughter is neurodivergent and has multiple diagnoses. I knew that in order for her to succeed, that she would need one-on-one instruction. However, stepping out of the classroom also meant that I would no longer have an income. While it would put an enormous strain on our family, we did what we had to do to make it work. Once we started homeschooling, I began realizing that the process for my daughter to reach academic grade level was going to take a lot longer than I had hoped. I needed to be able to find a way to make an income while staying at home with my daughter as her homeschool teacher. I really had no idea what skills would transfer to a stay at home job, especially one that would work with my schedule since I was teaching my daughter for part of the morning. I knew someone who had become a travel advisor the year before and they seemed to really enjoy it. I really love food and travel; I had even dabbled with a food and travel blog. I decided to look into becoming a travel advisor. I submitted the interest form and waited to hear back. Lori, the agency owner, called me and we set up a phone call. It went very well, and in the next few weeks, I started training for this new career. I was taking a risk because it did take some investment on my part to pay for the training. I had no idea if I would actually be good at this job or if anyone would ever buy a trip from me. Two years later. I look back and I see what a whirlwind journey it has been. I was featured at a Delta Vacations University class as an example of someone who is using social media well to promote her business. I have achieved top ten status in sales in my company on a regular basis. I just received the Unmatched Determination award for my grit and tenacity in reaching my goals. I have traveled to new destinations. I’ve built a community and relationships in the travel industry. And I am just getting started.
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?
The road to becoming a great travel advisor reminds me of the road on the Amalif Coast. Narrow, terrifying is spots, but overall, very beautiful. There is little room for error when you are planning someone’s trip, so you had better be meticulous over every detail. Issues will always arise when people travel, no matter how well you plan. That is when travel advisors have to step in and make things better. Many times we have to go to bat for our clients with travel suppliers. We are advocates for our clients, making sure they are treated fairly and that they have the best trip possible. Sometimes it can be stressful when a travel supplier doesn’t want to make things right and you have to go to battle. It is not fun and can be very frustrating. However, I think what these suppliers and my clients have realized is that I don’t quit until things are right. I have been on the phone with Italy at 3:00 in the morning because a client’s flight was delayed due to a strike in France. There are many situations like that. People think being a travel advisor is about planning fun trips, and it is. It is also about handling stressful situations for your clients so they don’t have to. Combine this with raising a child who is neurodivergent, and it’s just a lot. When my child is thriving and she’s having a good day, I can really focus on my business and everything‘s great. However, when she’s having a bad day, my attention must go to helping her, and I end up struggling with work and home-life balance. Fortunately, I have amazing clients who are kind and understanding. Also, my daughter has made amazing progress, so the bad days are few and far between. Overall, I am blessed to have a beautiful life in which I get to do something I love while still being available to my child.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I love my work as a travel advisor, but it’s not all that I do. I also run a nonprofit called Chicktime Conyers. We mentor girls in a group home. I am not really locked down into one defining role as far as career goes. I am more of an entrepreneur with multiple passions that I pursue. The common dynamic in everything I do is building community. I build community with my clients as a travel advisor. I am not just planning their trips; I am getting to know their family and I have the amazing opportunity to plan special moments for them that they will remember for a lifetime. My clients end up becoming like family to me. With Chicktime Conyers, I built a community of volunteers who spend time each month impacting the lives of middle school and high school girls in a group home in our community. The amazing leadership team at Chicktime and all of our volunteers not only serve together, but we do life together. We take trips together and celebrate each other. We are a community of strong women striving to empower the next generation. In my role of a homeschooling mom, I have built a community of people who understand my family’s dynamic and the struggles we face in parenting a neurodivergent child. They have become a support system to us and have helped my family to thrive instead of just survive. Wherever I am, I am building community. If I had to be defined by one role, it would be Community Builder.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Travel is back in a major way. People looking for cheap deals are going to be disappointed. Right after Covid, there were deals to be had. Now everyone is traveling again and hotels and cruises are selling out 1-2 years in advance. I think having a travel advisor is going to be of major importance so they can tell you about amazing destinations available that are in your budget. I see people looking for more exclusivity in their trips. If they are going to end up paying more, they want the perks to match the dollar amount. Instead of just a condo on the beach, people are now booking at an all-inclusive with their own butler and private tours and excursions. It is more about curated experiences than about a basic trip you can book on the mass market. Travel itineraries that I have seen getting more interest are the Florida Keys, national park trips, river cruises, Mediterranean cruises, private yacht charters, and African safaris. Those are selling out a year to two years in advance most of the time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sojourneytravel.com/heatherbowman
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sojourneytravelheatherbowman/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sojourneytravelbyheatherbowman/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@heatherbowman100
Image Credits
Brian Dean Photography
