Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire Soares.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started Up in the Air Life (www.upintheairlife.com / @upintheairlife on Instagram) in 2013 because there wasn’t a place for black luxury travelers who wanted to experience the finer things in life. It started with a trip to Croatia Yacht Week and blossomed to a company that now boasts over 25 destinations around the world on all seven continents. (www.upintheairlife.com/trips)
I was a Sales Executive at a Fortune 500 company and after over a decade the last couple of years, I felt very unfulfilled and got tired of the glass ceiling of being a black woman in Corporate America. So I gave up my California life and multiple six-figure jobs and moved to Mexico in 2018. Within one year of being full time at Up in the Air Life was a million-dollar agency and by 2019, we closed multiple millions.
My whole life, I was the token bougie black girl and Up in the Air Life allowed me to lean into who I was and celebrate my thirst for life and quest for the finest. Through Up in the Air Life, I have connected with thousands of clients who want the same.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It’s been tough since the business is self-funded I’ve had to invest and reinvest everything on my own. I’ve had to learn marketing, building teams, systemization of processes, and outsourcing abroad so we can afford a full staff. It’s been an amazing journey and now that travel has ceased because of COVID-19, I’ve had more time to myself to rest.
During this time, I’ve now started a Coaching Business to help other entrepreneurs escape their 9-5 to build a business and life of freedom using my unconventional strategies to success.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Up in the Air LIfe and The 7th Level Coaching Program – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Up in the Air Life is a luxury travel company that provides our clients with the most epic travel adventures around the world from Argentina to Zanzibar. We handle everything for our clients so all they have to do is book the trip and we take care of everything else.
We are known for our excellent customer service and most elaborate well-planned vacations. From private mega yachts in Croatia, private boats in Egypt, gorilla trekking in Uganda, Luxury safaris in South Africa, Tanzania, and Kenya, we have it all. We even host the most epic culinary and wine adventures in France and Portugal with our in-house Wine Educator.
We are Black Travel Excellence.
I’m most proud of my latest feature in Black Enterprise.
View Press – www.upintheairlife.com/press
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
With travel on hold, I have time to work on other projects at the moment which is bringing me so much joy. My legacy project is my Coaching Program I just launched. I am offering a 1:1 offering now to entrepreneurs looking to self fund their company, hire abroad, and scale.
By the end of the year, I will be offering a Group Coaching Program to help thousands of people who are like me – escaping corporate America to build a life of freedom with possibilities of living abroad.
My plans for the future for Up in the Air Life include being a 10M company by 2022.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.upintheairlife.com / www.clairebsoares.com
- Email: hello@upintheairlife.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/upintheairlife. / www.instagram.com/clairebsoares
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/upintheairlife. / www.facebook.com/clairebsoares
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/upintheairlife / www.twitter.com/clairebsoares
- Other: www.youtube.com/upintheairlife. / www.youtube.com/clairebsoares
Image Credit:
Simone Morais, Ruth Hickman, Mario Kristian, Jouvert Mike
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