Success Stories focus on veteran travel advisors and how they achieved success. Here’s a look at Niki Rakowitz, founder of Visionary CARE Travel and CT Signature Collection.
How did you get your start as a travel advisor?
Travel had always been in my soul, as I was raised by my grandparents, and we traveled via RV all around the U.S. as I was growing up. Once I graduated high school, I applied for a travel agent program about an hour away. I was notified that the program was shutting down as there was not enough interest. They put me in touch with a company that assigned me to a mentor. I worked hard under my host agency and mentor for two years and took all the training courses I could with The Travel Institute.
How did you build your business over the years?
As I believe is the case with most of us, my business began with friends and family. I would book anyone I knew at the time. As I was learning what I enjoyed booking, I was able to find my niche as a romance travel advisor. Living in a college town, we had lots of people getting married and honeymooners who reached out for guidance on the best beach destinations. I was able to get my name out in the community by doing lots of bridal shows, and things kind of took off with referrals after about a year of shows and attending many – oh so many – community events.
What characteristics make you a successful advisor?
I feel that my personal passion for helping others and my love of travel are showcased in the communications I have with my clients. I love learning who they are, not only for the vacation but in general. I listen to their concerns and take the time to care about their investment and guide them to the best experience. Traveling is an investment, and I do not take that lightly.
What have been your greatest challenges?
When the world shut down during the pandemic, so did my business, which resulted in me laying off my team, leaving me to handle not only my book of business but theirs as well. It was an eye-opening experience for me and made me reconsider my business and how I ran it. COVID was the biggest challenge as well as the biggest blessing in my career to date. I now have a business model and host that work better for my team, which are structured to handle anything the future throws our way.
What have been your greatest accomplishments?
My greatest accomplishment was – and is – the restructuring of my business. After two years with a host, I had the growth and sales to go completely on my own, which felt like a success. However, after 22 years of having my own IATA number, I was learning the value of a host and having that support behind me when things happen, as I always do.
I have now joined the Sulit Experience/Montecito Village Travel/Virtuoso team and am impressed by all the resources I have at my disposal. I don’t think agents realize the value of having a host sometimes. I no longer have to push and fight for sales numbers with a specific supplier to get the higher commissions, which itself is huge. So, learning the value of the right host and restructuring my business were the best things I could have done, and they have allowed me to level up my business and move forward with my luxury brand.
What tips can you provide advisors new to the industry?
You must have a passion for customer service, a skill for problem-solving, a desire to constantly be learning and a lot of patience. The travel industry is constantly changing, and you must learn and adapt. Every day, there is something new to learn. Staying aware of industry changes and trends is important. Finding the right associations, membership groups and niche communities and building strong relationships with them, as well as your supplier relationships, will always be in the best interest of your growth and success. Find a mentor – someone who will take you under their wing and be there to support, guide and cheerlead your success.
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