After 30 years of selling travel, including the last 17 years out of an office on the second floor of the First Credit Union building, Powell River Cruise and Travel owner Viv Watson is transitioning the local travel agency from a storefront to a home-based business.
“I’m still licensed, monitored and regulated by Consumer Protection BC and the Insurance Council of BC, just as any storefront would be,” says Watson. “Nothing changes, except that my desk is moving.”
As a result of the move, along with downsizing, more time will be available to assist individual clients with custom tours and travel options in a variety of areas.
“I like the idea of specializing and really focusing on customer service,” says Watson. “I’m also going to focus a lot more on marketing my services through social media.”
While some clients already know where they want to go and just require help coordinating the logistics, Watson says others change their minds after an initial consultation and end up travelling elsewhere after exploring other options.
“Some people come in with a lot of knowledge from the internet, which sometimes can be a wee bit dangerous,” she says, “as it doesn’t really weed out the downsides or hidden pitfalls.”
In those circumstances, guidance and additional consulting from an experienced travel agent can help alleviate any misconceptions and put people back on the right track toward a fulfilling travel experience.
“Then there are people who come in and say, ‘I just want to go away for two weeks and this is amount of money I want to spend,’” says Watson. “That can be fun, too.”
Currently, due to less-than-ideal local weather, sun destinations are popular with customers. Powell River Cruise and Travel can help people with standard vacation requests, to sunny and warm locales, or offer more of a non-traditional option.
“One of the new up-and-coming destinations is Iceland,” says Watson. “With seasonal direct flights out of Seattle, it has become more accessible from the west coast.”
For more adventurous travellers, Myanmar presents an opportunity for exploration of an emerging travel destination.
“Lots of travellers are still looking for something a little bit off the beaten track, and while they are becoming fewer and farther between, Slovenia might also fit the bill,” says Watson. “With lots of unspoiled countryside and extraordinary natural diversity, it has a lot to offer.”
Watson books flights, accommodations, cruises and rail travel for individuals, couples or groups. Her company is not limited to specific cruise lines or tours and offers experiences through a multitude of operators.
“Whatever people want to do, we can help them, with no limitations,” says Watson.
Through an affiliation with the Travel Agent Next Door, a home-based umbrella company for home-based travel agents, Powell River Cruise and Travel has access to a broad range of programs and suppliers, which is an additional benefit for travellers.
“It was started by a longtime travel acquaintance, and being 100 per cent Canadian-owned, it fit into my marketing and business needs,” says Watson.
Through her own extensive travel history, Watson has firsthand knowledge of many of the countries her customers inquire about, and she has her favourites.
“I’ve been to many places, but definitely the highlights would be Africa, Morocco and Vietnam, and cooking school in Italy,” she says, “Along the way I have seen a thing or two and look forward to sharing that with fellow enthusiasts.”
For more information, call 604.483.8697 or email [email protected].
