LUX Tourism Awards 2018

LUX - Tourism Awards 2018 17 Established in 2015, Creative Travel & Events draws on Sutra’s vast personal experience in the travel industry. After visiting over 30 countries herself, she developed a love for travel. Traveling began for her at a young age when her father served in the United States Military. She herself, joined the United States Navy many years later. Over the years since leaving the Navy, it has taken Sutra a vast amount of work and dedication to achieve the exceptional success she enjoys today. Being a disabled Military Veteran, she found herself struggling to find corporate work and decided to work for herself. With the guidance of several resources and a lot of research, she was able to create her first company with less than $100USD. Her first company, which was a business coaching and consulting firm was created out of years of watching entrepreneurs have successes and failures, and she draws from these experiences in her current role, as she is eager to emphasise. “Anyone can have a desire to start a business, it is whether or not they have the vision and internal motivation to carry it on and get through the hard times without losing faith. I encourage people to talk to someone; to get a mentor or a coach. It all starts with having a passion for something and then finding a way to survive and build a future from it. The next thing you know, you could be a travel agent touring all over the world.” Today, one of the main focuses of Creative Travel & Events is to create group trips where people can experience the adventures and dream vacations from their ‘bucket list.’ Trips like singing German songs while clinking beer steins together at Oktoberfest to running in the Nairobi Marathon then relaxing among the wildebeests in the depths of Africa are all possible thanks to this dedicated company. Sutra explains how she ensures that her clients have a truly unforgettable experience. “When a client comes to me, I listen and imagine myself on that trip. I walk myself through the whole vacation, from the time I leave the front door of my home, until the time I return. If it’s a special occasion, I make sure there is some sort of acknowledgment: Best Event & Travel Consultant – Arizona, Award for Excellence in Discounted Air Travel Arrangements and Women Veterans Travel Business of the Year 2018 Creative Travel & Events, LLC offers discounted air, corporate event services with travel, fun and luxury cruises, European adventures, sport team travel, military and family reunions, faith-based travel, destination wedding and honeymoons, world-wide sporting events, and even that quiet weekend getaway. As such, the firm has attracted an international following, as Event and Travel Consultant Sutra Borgeson discusses. Best Event & Travel Consultant – Arizona, Award for Excellence in Discounted Air Travel Arrangements and Women Veterans Travel Business of the Year 2018 whether it be wine, balloons, chocolate covered strawberries, or even specially made cupcakes. I always want my clients to feel special.” As part of this commitment to creating bespoke experiences that meet the client’s needs and exceed their expectations, Sutra takes the consultative approach, as she explains. “To ensure that I curate the very best possible experience for them, I find myself selective with my clients, because not everyone is completely committed and ready to travel. I love working with super excited people who are ready, even if they have no idea where they want to go.” Moving forward, as the industry moves towards online bookings and comparison websites many clients shun traditional travel agencies in favour of booking everything on their own. However, Sutra believes that this approach can cause clients to incur additional fees, as they do not fully understand what they are signing up for. As such, Sutra shared her thoughts on the travel industry as it relates to the future of travel agents. “Looking ahead, I foresee a greater focus on using travel agents for the full trip, rather than simply for flights. Just as a doctor must be trained and continues their training to be proficient and up to date on all the new changes in medicine, so does the travel agent on travel. They are both professionals of their trade. We are constantly being educated and certified on new hotels, cruises, and tours, new laws and requirements. This includes validation from consortiums and travel associations. In fact, we often travel to destinations to see them with our own eyes. Our goal is to answer your questions and help, when or if, a problem arises.” “The reality is you may be getting a good deal online, but often you are not getting all the information and end up surprised later. Plus, as an agent, because of my relationships with the hotels, cruise lines and tour companies, I can offer you other things that frankly the computer screen cannot. Things that are not even offered to the general public. I am here to answer the phone so there is no guessing “I foresee a greater focus on using travel agents for the full trip, rather than simply for flights. Just as a doctor must be trained and continues their training to be proficient and up to date on all the new changes in medicine, so does the travel agent on travel.” or wondering what that sentence about additional fees really means. Fundamentally, travel agents are here to save our clients time, frustration and most importantly, money, and this will be our ongoing goal at Creative Travel & Events as we look towards a bright and exciting future.”