Today, we’d like to introduce you to Lori Stephens.
Hi Lori, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my career in the travel industry as an employee of Delta Airlines in 1998. Then, I fell in love with traveling and developed a serious case of wanderlust.
My passion for travel turned into a career as a travel advisor in 2011 when I was pregnant with my now 12-year-old. It was a VERY part-time job, earning money for diapers and groceries, as I had four other home-schooled children in the house (12, 5, 2.5, and 1.5). A year later, I went through a separation that eventually ended in divorce. After the divorce, I had some decisions to make put my kids in daycare and go into the workforce or dig my heels in and make a go with travel.
I decided to go full-time as a travel advisor in 2014 so that I could have a flexible schedule that enabled me to also raise my children. I worked hard for several years, achieving top sales in many niches, and eventually bought my children our first home in the North GA mountains in 2019. I also met my now husband.
Early the following year, I was on track to reach what would have been my biggest year of sales yet. I had booked over a million dollars in travel. My now husband proposed, and everything seemed to be falling into place in my personal life and in my business. I was providing well for my children and was working hard to create a stable home life for us.
Then everything started shifting. The COVID-19 pandemic started sweeping the world. Our industry came to a screeching halt. We had no one traveling. We had no one booking. My husband and I married the day before the shelter-in-place order because we had no idea where this nightmare would leave us. I questioned my career choice, and I tried to decide if I wanted to stay in the business or go back to school. I am thankful for a husband who supported me whether I made a career change or not.
With travel in “recovery mode”, and a hope that we could start booking again, I started Sojourney Travel on January 6, 2021. On February 1st, the same year, I hired nine advisors. Our bookings and business skyrocketed, and our growth was noted by major suppliers.
I became a mentor, supporting and training other advisors and sharing my love of travel with others all while enabling their financial and personal growth. Today we have almost 70 people working with Sojourney Travel, our sales have doubled every year, and we are winning awards and being noticed all over the country.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Alongside the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the recovery of the travel industry, we found that training advisors post-pandemic was a “Pandora’s Box” of sorts. We had no idea what the landscape of travel would look like going forward. As countries began to open, with heavy restrictions, we were constantly pivoting to figure out travel conditions and advisories all over the world. The cruise industry was just as enigmatic to figure out as it was constantly shifting and changing. How does an advisor coming from a consistent, somewhat absolute experience move to owning her own agency and training advisors to constantly be on the offense, looking for obstacles before they even knew what was coming next?
There were points where it felt like we were walking on solid ground and other moments where the solid ground very rapidly changed to quicksand. The industry was constantly changing, with new travel requirements arising every day. As we tried to give our advisors a solid foundation of training, we very quickly realized that nothing was consistent within the industry during this monumental time. What we were able to train our early advisors on was the art of pivoting, caring for clients despite all odds, and maintaining a positive mindset throughout any obstacle.
Now, we call it “Revenge Travel”. The demand has been overwhelming. In 12 years, we have never seen such demand! It’s a blessing and a challenge. More than ever, the public has realized the value of the travel advisor, as we were able to move mountains during the pandemic when large-box online services shut off their phones. Our relationships with major suppliers (like Royal Caribbean and Delta Vacations, for example) brought forth a calm in our clients’ storms. We were the unsung heroes of our clients’ vacation experiences.
Another challenge for me was learning to be a new wife alongside balancing my home life and homeschooling five children. Running a business is sometimes overwhelming, at best. There are times I want to give up and quit, but there is too much at stake. My children are watching my work ethic. They are also watching my ability to balance being a mother and wife. My advisors and admin team are watching my leadership abilities, conflict resolution skills, and how I handle day-in-and-out tasks, alongside being a good wife and mother. It’s a MASSIVE balancing act. But I’m proud to say I rarely miss a team meeting. I rarely miss a soccer game or theatre performance, and I try to be mindful of the gift that I have in leading this team and being the present mom and wife at home.
As you know, we’re big fans of Sojourney Travel. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Sojourney Travel is a broad-spectrum, global-focused travel agency dedicated to curating luxury travel experiences that change people’s lives. Our company specializes in crafting personalized itineraries, ensuring that clients embark on unforgettable journeys that are tailored to their unique preferences.
Our dedicated team of travel advisors cater to a diverse range of travel interests, offering personalized experiences for individuals, families, and groups – no matter the destination. We have relationships with top luxury travel companies worldwide, all to your benefit. If you need anything before, during, or after travel, our advisors and our trusted network of suppliers are there to make sure that everything goes as according to planned.
By working with a Sojourney Travel advisor, clients gain the assurance that they are not just another traveler; they are at the center of a service that prioritizes their satisfaction and well-being. Our advisors are more than just trip planners – they are active listeners, destination experts, problem solvers, and advocates. We believe in more than just meeting the baseline requirements. Our advisors consistently aim to go beyond the anticipations of our clients to custom-curate the adventure of a lifetime. It’s not just about arranging a client’s travel; it’s about crafting an outstanding journey that forges a deep emotional connection between an advisor and the client throughout the entire travel planning journey.
To learn more about Sojourney Travel, you can visit sojourneytravel.com.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I have bungee jumped. My dad had to sign the permission form for me to do it because my mom wouldn’t. I was 17, and it was exhilarating! Also, I was a classically trained concert pianist and majored in piano pedagogy and performance in college. I hated it. Sitting in one place for too long didn’t sit well with me (pun intended).
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sojourneytravel.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sojourneytravel/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SojourneyTravel/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sojourneytravel/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SojourneyTravel
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/sojourneytravel
