Inspiring Conversations with Melissa Cowles of Make a Memory… Travel

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Cowles.

Hi Melissa, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was a public school teacher., raising my own 2 children with a husband in the military and often deployed.
In 2013 my daughter graduated highschool and began college. Soon after, she was invited to Bali, to work with doctors and nurses regarding western medicine and updated practices. While there we began to plan the ultimate mother daughter trip. Indonesia, Japan, Australia…
I had always planned our family trips, but this started to become a bit overwhelming. There were airlines on that side of the world I had never heard of, websites looked odd, Iveasnt sure who or what to trust one where it was safe to enter my information let alone credit card details. Then I realized everything I wanted to see and do wasn’t online and I couldn’t find authentic experiences or things. not available to every other tourist. We wanted more. We wanted to really experience the cultures.
Eventually, I called a travel agent located in another city- there were none here in Monroe- not accredited experienced and knowledgeable about Asia and Australia. He was pretty good. He helped me come up with an itinerary, decent places to stay in our budget, and let me know which airlines were legit. With his help, I felt safe, but there were still things he’ couldn’t do, things I requested and found on my own, places he had never been I wanted to explore. By the time we were about done,, he asked me- “Melissa, why don’t you do this? Why not be an agent? You are doing it anyway.”
It had never occurred to me that I could. I told him so and that I had no idea how. While he worked under someone else, he graciously became a mentor. Let me know what to research and where to find a program that would work for me, even suggested what questions to ask in addition to my own.
I ended up back in school, creating a business model and taking tests while teaching full time. I started under a host agency, that offered a lot of support, and my first clients were the teachers down the hall, friends and family. My first trips were simple- cruises, Caribbean all Inclusives, Florida theme parks, and packages.
I started attending every seminar, conference and training in person, at my own cost I was accepted into. This ranged from Atlanta meetings to flying to Mexico and the Caribbean for site inspections. In 3 days I would walk over 45 miles touring more than 12 resorts. I wanted to know what I was selling to my clients. An internet picture does NIT tell the whole story. The first years, I spent much more than I made.
At each event, I learned, I made connections, I found new. And better ways of booking travel. I met agents from other states and companies who will only work with travel advisors and discovered the best if the best will never have consumer facing websites.
Within a year I was dabbling in Europe and the UK and within 2 I was fully immersed. Later I added Africa, Australia, Asia, South America and even Antarctica.
From the early days, word spread. I couldn’t afford to advertise. One teacher told another. A friend shared a FB post or mentioned me in conversation. I admit I’m a bit anal- I don’t know how to get the easy A. I never did. For my clients, that’s a good thing! I give it my all for every single person that comes to us. I go above and beyond. I make sure it’s right, goes beyond their wishes, and the memories made will be amazing and last a lifetime. I believe, because of that, word continued to spread, throughout the state and beyond.
13 years after it all began, and years after I’ve earned my own credentials, I still “go so I know”. I visit multiple countries every year to ensure my suppliers, now more like friends, are treating my clients like VIPs. We visit hotels and sites and hidden gems. We meet drivers and guides and photographers and musicians. We tour wedding venues and taste the food and try the classes.
I’m the only agent from the state of GA attending conferences and meet and greets in countries like Italy and states like Alaska. I’m actually one of the few in the U.S. It takes time and money to go- and most aren’t willing to put in the expense.
That’s how it began and where we are now.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Oh gosh no- not smooth at all!
After a few years of building a business on the side and working long days into long nights, something had to give. Education was no longer what it was. Teachers are no longer allowed to teach let alone run their own classrooms. It became more not the paperwork and proving what you taught than the students. It was heartbreaking to see and no longer resembled my dream. I had to make a call. Leave the school system to run a business- knowing to do it right it was costing more than I earned and I’d lose my full time income, but could expand the business.
I jumped. Thankfully with the support of my husband who believed I could do it.
So I began a new full time adventure from my home office. I had callers that hung up on me because I didn’t have a brick and mortar location. Some told me they didn’t think travel agents still existed. I myself had a hard time with the question- what do you do? For 13 years I had been a teacher. I’m also shy by nature. Definitely not a sales person . One day at a time one referral at a time, and repeat clients kept me going.
Then Covid hit. Talk about a challenge. I worked 16-18 hours a day just to cancel and try to save my clients hard earned cash, all while losing any potential income I would have had for over a year. Cancelled trips do NOT pay commission. They don’t pay for the hours of planning, then the hours of cancelling. I spent all of my time on the computer and often 2 phones at a time. Just being on hold took a toll. My record hold time was 14 hours with 1 airline for 1 reservation, and they answered in the middle of the night. My eyelids were burnt and peeling from staring at a screen. The day the world shut down, I had clients stranded as far as Australia. Sone in small towns where a ship was forced to dock with no way to get them home. It was one of the most challenging time periods of my life.
I took care of all of them. I stayed on hold and fought through tge masses confusion and every other agent and traveler in the world to get every single one of them home. I found the lady seat on a plane, begged a driver to get them to an airport, did anything and called in every favor to make sure my clients didn’t lose a time. And not one of them did.
Every single client got home within 24 hours. Got refunded or a full credit to take their vacation later. Sone refused advise and ended up with me doing it all twice for them. In the end, they all took their vacation or got their money back.
After Covid, everyone realized the value of using a travel advisor. Those who booked online list everything, couldn’t even get through by phone, some vendors shut down. Some agencies did too. I continued to push through.
Those clients I saved told everyone and as soon as the vaccine was available- I took it so I could be on the first planes out of ATL. I needed to show people what travel was like. And 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?
We are a full service travel agency. Our agency is accredited nationally, certified in every cruise-line or all inclusive property you’ve ever heard of, we’re experts in most countries, islands, and destinations. We’re certified experts in brands like Sandals and Disney. Im 1 of 29 Alaska experts in the country. I’m invited and attend conferences for European travel – in European countries every year. This year, we’re expanding our expertise to include Morocco! Ive attended meetings events and conferences here in ATL, met with suppliers for Morocco in places as far as the Azores, and now will travel in person this month . Our travel experiences will be posted on social media. As I said, I go so I know.
I think that’s what I’m most proud of. -I go I do I really know what I’m selling. Most agents can’t say the same.
We offer full services. Full custom itineraries. We also do destination weddings throughout Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the U.S.Mexico and the Caribbean.
Small groups are offered several times a year. I host and lead the groups so there is nothing to worry about. Every detail is planned. Our agency has a world wide -impeccable reputation. We are allowed in places other agencies and larger groups are not. We get to see the real hidden gems!
Large groups are also taken care of! MICE groups from Hawaii to Italy and inbetween. Are extremely well received! Chambers of commerce groups, Birthday cruises of more than 50, and when we do weddings, we take care of all the guests!
If it’s travel we can do it! And we’ll cldo it better than anyone else!
How do I know we’ll do it better or what sets us apart? Those conferences and site inspections I go to? There’s never another GA agency. There are very few US agencies- if they are not there they don’t have the access I have or the lnuwkedge or the personal contacts. Still not sure? Ask a client who’s traveled with us!

What matters most to you?
Clients and the memories they come home with. They become my friends, my repeat business.. They helped build my business. I live in a small town. I see my clients in the grocery store or walking downtown or at the hairdresser. I need to be able to look them in the eye and know I did my best, that they got the absolute best experience possible for their budget. I know they will come home with incredible memories and having their expectations blown away by what they actually saw and did! They matter to me and I want them to know and feel that.

Pricing:

• Varies by trip.
• Client budget is respected at all times.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.makeamemorytravel.net
• Instagram: https://Www.instagram.com/makeamemorytravel
• Facebook: https://Www.Facebook.com/makeamemorytravel
• LinkedIn: https://Www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-cowles