Meet Jonathan Pilkington of Pilkington Travels, LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Pilkington.

Hi Jonathan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
After earning a doctorate in Voice Performance and spending nearly a decade teaching voice full time at a college in northeast Georgia, I found myself craving more city life and freedom. In 2016, I moved to Atlanta, where I continued teaching and performing as a freelance artist. Around that time, I also began searching for a fulfilling “side hustle.”

Having developed a deep love of travel and trip planning over the years, I decided to explore a new path as a travel advisor. In 2019, I completed an intensive week-long program in Baltimore to become a Virtuoso Certified Travel Advisor, which launched my career in luxury travel.

Just months later, the pandemic brought travel to a standstill. Rather than pausing, I used that time to keep learning, building connections, and promoting my business. As destinations reopened, I took road trips throughout Georgia and bordering states, and I traveled frequently to Mexico to experience resorts first-hand—discovering favorites I now recommend to clients.

What began as a side project quickly grew into a true passion and nearly a full-time career. Today, I balance teaching around 25 voice lessons a week (including part-time at Auburn University) with running Pilkington Travels, LLC, which has grown to include two other advisors. Most recently, I launched *The Luxury All-Inclusive Travel Podcast*, available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, where I share insights on luxury resorts, cruises, and more.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The pandemic was definitely a struggle, but as I said before, I took the opportunity to learn and keep people dreaming about travel. Other world events can also make the business more challenging, but as I continue to learn and find my niche and ideal clients, things are always improving.

As you know, we’re big fans of Pilkington Travels, LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I founded Pilkington Travels, LLC in 2019 and am proud to be affiliated with Travelink, a Nashville-based agency. Through Travelink, I’m a member of Virtuoso, a global network of the world’s top travel agencies and suppliers.

With my background in music, I like to say that I orchestrate beautiful experiences. I listen closely to my clients’ wishes and design trips that flow seamlessly, with thoughtful details and special perks along the way—whether it’s a luxury cruise, an all-inclusive resort stay, or a customized journey through Europe.

For me, true luxury is all about attention to detail. While my specialty is all-inclusive luxury travel, I also craft tailor-made itineraries across Europe and beyond.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
One of the things I love most about the travel industry is how supportive and welcoming the community is. I’m deeply grateful to the owner of the first agency I joined for helping me get started, and to Virtuoso for the invaluable training and experiences I gained when I transitioned to a Virtuoso agency. Now, with Travelink, I’m especially thankful to Sandy Schadler for her encouragement and for nominating me as a Rising Star with Travel & Leisure. That recognition has opened exciting opportunities for me, including participation in ILTM (International Luxury Travel Marketplace) North America and ILTM Cannes, where I’ve had the chance to engage directly with top executives in the industry.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pilkingtontravels.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/pilkington_travels
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/pilkingtontravels
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/thetravelingtenor
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/7Jj2L8l80fG6DfpyvDrBZK?si=WbBz9LrjQkeH-eVSQFw7LQ