Today we’d like to introduce you to Carla Woolstrum.
Carla, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I had an almost four-decade career in IT Technology that over the course of several years moved me from my native Nebraska to Texas and finally to the Atlanta area, where I have lived since 1996. While I was successful in the IT world, it was a career I had just sort of stumbled into and I was never truly passionate about it. In 2019, as I was approaching my 60th birthday, I decided I needed to shake up my life a little, so after a lot of research and a few heart to hearts with my financial advisor, I decided to purchase a travel agency.
I have always been a traveler, and my favorite thing is to visit somewhere I’ve never been and experience the world in new ways. Opening a travel business seemed like the perfect way for me to help others see the world through a new lens while also giving me the opportunity to expand my own travel experience.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t all been smooth sailing (pun intended). Just a few months after I made the decision, the world was engulfed in a global pandemic. Learning a new business while navigating all the rules and restrictions on travel during that period was a challenge, but also allowed me to show my clients that it was still possible to follow their travel dreams.
It was difficult to keep up with constantly changing regulations on vaccinations, testing, masking and documentation. My company is called Cruise Planners and the government had banned cruising. Although I sell all aspects of travel, it was always an interesting conversation with potential clients. I found that the best way I could reassure travelers about the availability and safety of travel during Covid was to travel myself. By posting my own travels, and clearly explaining what the requirements and impediments were, I was able to reassure my clients that they could still move about in the world.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Cruise Planners?
Cruise Planners is the largest Travel Agency franchise company in the US. As an independent agency owner, I pride myself on getting to know my clients personally so that I can design a vacation that suits their individual travel style and desires. I have planned romantic honeymoon cruises in Mediterranean, multi-generational family group cruises to celebrate milestone birthdays, small-group safaris that allow clients to get up close with majestic wild animals, or a solo extended voyage that explored exotic locales from Greece to Australia.
I am often asked “Why do I need a Travel Advisor when I can just book it online?” The answer is, not everything you see online is as it appears, and that website won’t know if that particular resort is currently under construction or has recently changed management. I use my own personal travel experiences, as well as my access to over 2,500 agents in the Cruise Planners network to provide inside information to my clients. This includes “hidden gems” that are off the beaten path and special “surprise and delight” extras to make their travel memories truly one of a kind.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I have lived in the Atlanta area for almost 30 years and I have always loved the “small town within a big city” feel. While the metro area provides opportunities to experience all the arts, sports, entertainment and bustle anyone could want, each individual neighborhood has its own unique charms and inside secret spots that only the locals know about.
Of course, any time you talk about the cons of living in Atlanta you have to mention the traffic. I work from my home, so I don’t have to deal with rush hour on a daily basis, but it would be great if we could build our mass transit system into something along the lines of New York, or the large European cities where you can literally get anywhere in the city by train. I believe that would cement Atlanta’s reputation as a truly cosmopolitan city and “The Capitol of the South.”
Pricing:
- Travel pricing is very dynamic and based on demand
- There is a travel opportunity for every budget
- That “Bucket List” trip is not as out of reach as you think
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.allwhowander.biz
- Instagram: @all_who_wander-travel
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CPCWoolstrum
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-woolstrum-09982635/
Image Credits
All photos are mine.
