Today we’d like to introduce you to Laneka Hale.
Hi Laneka, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey into travel really started from a personal place. I’ve always loved traveling, ever since I was a young girl it’s been something that lit me up. But the real spark came when I was planning a trip for my 40th birthday to Cancun Mexico. A friend of mine, who was a travel agent at the time, came over to my home with his laptop to help me book my trip. Once he finished, he turned his computer around and showed me the commission he made from that one booking. In that moment, I thought, “Wait a minute, this is something I could do too, because travel is one of my love languages and I can earn money as well by helping others do the same.” That’s what planted the seed.
With that being said, I started Tranquility International Travel in 2017, combining my love of travel with my natural passion for taking care of people’s needs and seeing the joy it brings them. With a background in healthcare, I’ve always seen travel as more than just trips and itineraries, it’s a form of self-care and wellness, a moment of release. Especially when it’s planned as a leisure trip rather than for business purposes only. It gives you an escape from the hustle and bustle of every day life, along with seeing people, places, and things from a different perspective. It has also been proven to promote relaxation, reduce stress and depression, lower the risk of heart disease, and increase endorphin production, all of which improve overall well-being. From that, I wanted to give my clients more than what they could get from an online booking site. I wanted to curate experiences that felt personal, seamless, and memorable.
Over the years, that has become my mission: to design luxury travel experiences that not only reflect my clients desires, but also allow me to serve as their wellness coach throughout the process. I want them to have peace of mind knowing that everything is carefully handled from beginning to end. I don’t just want my clients to feel like they are booking a trip, I want them to feel cared for, heard, and understood, and to return home refreshed and confident, knowing they had someone in their corner ensuring every detail was managed without them worrying about the logistics of it. This is a very important piece because this is something I would expect myself.
What started as a side hustle has grown into my true calling of service. Today, I see myself not only as a travel advisor but as a personal concierge who genuinely cares about my clients and their well-being. For me, travel is about creating lasting memories, promoting wellness, and offering experiences that feel like a breath of tranquility in a busy world.
And that’s really how I got to where I am today, by combining my love for travel with my passion for caring for others and their wellbeing, turning a simple idea into a business that helps others experience the world in a way that restores and inspires them.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I will not lie! It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. When I first started, I was juggling a full-time career in the healthcare field (which I still work in today), while also adjusting to life as a newly single mom after my divorce in 2023, which brought it’s own challenges, all while trying to build a business on the side. In the midst of that, COVID hit and changed the game for the travel industry. I also experienced the loss of loved ones along the way that almost made me question my “Why”. As they say, life was lifing and my boat was being rocked. But by God’s grace, I stuck it out and rolled with the punches. There were, and still are plenty of moments where I’ve questioned if I have the time, energy, or resources to really grow my business to where I want it to be. The travel industry, like any sector of business, comes with its own set of challenges. I have learned and is still learning that it really takes resilience and a lot of determination to keep going.
Another struggle was learning to really value myself and my services. In the beginning, I saw travel as a fun side gig, but as I grew, I had to change it up and step into charging service fees and treating this like the real business it is. Realizing that my time is valuable and if I am going to put in the work, I want to be compensated for it. That shift took confidence and faith within myself. A lot of people don’t know or understand what goes on in the background of running a business.
But through it all, what’s kept me going is my passion and having the ability to help someone experience the journey of breaking free from life’s daily stressors, by helping them release the weight of planning and just embrace the joy of the moment of not having to do anything but sit back and relax. Because one thing for sure and two things for certain, we are always planning to do something in this life on a daily basis. With that being said, every struggle has made me stronger and has brought me to where I am today. I’m not where I want to be, but I’m sure not where I use to be.
As you know, we’re big fans of Tranquility International Travel. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Tranquility International Travel is all about creating travel experiences that are as seamless as they are memorable. I specialize in luxury and wellness-focused travel, designing personalized trips that reflect my clients’ desires while also serving as a form of self care to others. Whether it’s a quick getaway, a luxury retreat, or a multi-destination journey, I handle every detail from start to finish, so my clients can focus on relaxing and enjoying the experience.
What sets my business apart is how I blend thoughtful personalization with a hands on approach, making sure every detail is seamless and every client feels truly valued.. I’m not just a travel advisor, I serve as a personal concierge, a planner, and in many ways, a wellness guide for my clients. I take the time to understand their preferences, needs, and vision for their trip, and I make it my mission to deliver an experience that exceeds expectations.
I’m most proud of the relationships I’ve built with my clients. I’m also proud that I can be that trusted go to advisor when they do not know where to start or which way to go to start planning for one of life’s biggest investments. Seeing them return home refreshed, inspired, and filled with memories is the most rewarding part of what I do. My goal is for every client to feel truly cared for, stress-free, and confident that they have a trusted partner guiding them through every step of their journey.
With my brand, I’m shifting toward a wellness-focused approach for the near future, which will include retreats and products designed to support the overall wellbeing.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I like best about my city is there’s so much to do and choose from such as dinning, entertainment and lodging. There’s truly something for everyone here. What I like least is the congestion and traffic; it can sometimes feel like a mini New York City! Despite that, I love that Atlanta has this dynamic energy and diversity that makes it an exciting place to live and explore.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.tranquilityinttravel.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/tranquility_intl_travel
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/10127h
