Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Shawhan.
Hi Samantha, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I had worked in the wedding industry for years. I always knew I wanted to do a destination wedding, so I would not have to pick favorites in the STL area. We worked with a travel agent we knew, and after signing a contract, I realized he was not the right agent for us. He did not listen to our wants and needs. He was not there to fight for us with the resort on certain things. While in Mexico, I contacted another agency in the STL area and said, “I never want anyone to experience want I went through; how do I become a travel agent?” Less than a week later, I was in the office discussing the next steps to becoming an independent contractor in August 2019. I remember the owner saying I bet I can see you doing one million in sales in 3-5 years and being very successful in this business. This is how Travel with Samantha S was born. After training, webinars, etc., I booked my first clients in November, who traveled over New Year’s Eve. I had my first cancelation for the scare of covid in February of 2020, thinking it would pass. I did not know that 2020 would be the year I would spend 7-9 hours on the phone for one reservation where policies and procedures were changing every day, sometimes every hour. I can not tell you how much I cried; it was so stressful and unknown. People tried to cancel in March for the September honeymoon but did not get insurance. I kept thinking how lucky I was that I had just started, and although I had success quickly, I just thought of those seasoned veterans who have been in business for 10, or 20 years +. In late 2020, after returning home from Cabo, we learned we were expecting our son, Wesley, to be born in June 2021. I switched agencies in 2021 to Destination Fun Travel, which had a storefront in Kansas, while I was in the STL area. Travel was still being determined in 2021, although some started to pick back up. I had a full-time job until our son was born. In 2021, with a newborn to 6-month-old on my hip, I had over 800,000 in sales after cancelations and the second wave of covid. In 2022, with 6-18 month old on my hip, I had over 1.25 million in sales. Something I am still amazed I was able to accomplish in such a short time. I am excited to see what the future holds for me, my business, and my clients after Wesley starts daycare 2 days a week in the fall.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I answered this this a little in the first question; COVID was the biggest struggle. Now it is the airlines. Flight prices are at an all-time high, and they are canceling more now than ever due to staff shortages.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
In 2022, we went to Mexico for Wesley’s first birthday, Jamaica, for another family trip, and then I went to the Bahamas for wedding specialist training. In 2023, we are making family trips to Turks and Caicos in April and the Dominican Republic later in the year. First-hand experience and knowledge is what helps me find the best resort for my clients. I have been to over 100 resorts in Cancun alone. I was invited to go to Mexico this summer for a romance travel conference, and then in July, I will be going to one of the most elite conferences in the travel industry in Las Vegas. Both conferences require applications, large sales numbers, good standing with vendors, and other agents in the travel community. Less than 150 agents across the country get asked, it is a huge honor, and I am so excited to go, learn, and meet new vendors to be the best agent I can be for my clients! My top 5 all-inclusive destinations are Mexico, St. Lucia, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Antigua. My top 5 non-all-inclusive destinations are Italy, Greece, Hawaii, Tahiti, and St Lucia. I specialize in international (and Hawaii) romance travel, honeymoon, anniversaries, romantic getaways, and destination weddings. I still help with non-romance travel, like girlfriend getaways, and just because of trips. Now that I have my son and clients are starting to have children, I am selling more family-friendly resorts as we travel and experience them firsthand. I quickly learned who or what I am not. I am not a Disney specialist. I do not assist with domestic travel.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Get travel insurance! I can not stress that enough! No one needs insurance, until you need insurance. You cover yourself in the states – home, health, car… why would you not want to be covered while in a foreign country?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://trips.destinationfuntravel.com/TravelwithSamanthaS
- Instagram: @travelwithsamanthas
- Facebook: Facebook.com/travelwithsamanthas
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-shawhan
- Other: https://msha.ke/travelwithsamanthas
Image Credits
Wedding photo is Your Story Photo and Cinema in STL, IG: @your.story.photo.and.cinema
