Today we’d like to introduce you to Carol Carrillo
Hi Carol, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started my Travel Business in 2019 when I was looking for a side hustle, I already had a degree in Hospitality Management and also worked in Hotels and Resorts before, so why not sign up to become a Travel Agent – the only thing I regret at that time was signing up under a wrong host agency and not doing a lot of research. What got me the most was their offer of “free travel” which now that I think about it more there is no such thing as “free travel” you have to earn it and you have to work hard for it. After years in the business, I learned to narrow down my expertise and started planning Destination Weddings & Romance Travel that only focuses on certain destinations such as Mexico, Hawaii, Caribbean, Costa Rica, Maldives, and Tahiti. I learned that I cannot be everything to everyone, and narrowing my niche allows me to provide great service and focus to my clients.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was not an easy road, as I mentioned when I started I signed up under MLM agency and the people above me never really cared about my success. It was 2019 and I really did not know what and where to focus, there were so many things that Travel Agents can book and I was an all-around travel agent. My first booking was a hotel in St Louis for two nights, and merely made $17. Then of course, pandemic happened in 2020 and it was right after I booked my first honeymoon couple to Punta Cana. We had to cancel their trip for April of that year, and rescheduled around November. We also had to change their initial resort to another property as their first choice was shut down during the pandemic. Around early 2021 I was ready to throw in the towel, I had no mentors, not making enough sales, no systems in place, no marketing strategy. I was shelling out more money than what I was making.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am Destination Wedding & Romance Travel Advisor. I specialize in all-inclusive Destination Weddings in the Caribbean and Mexico, and also plan romantic vacations to Hawaii, Caribbean, Maldives, Mexico, and other Tropical Destinations. The only places I would not book is domestic US, Cruises, and Disney.
Ever since I started planning my first honeymoon booking, I fell in love with the idea of focusing in romance travel. Around April 0f 2021 when I almost gave up, I found a free webinar about planning Destination Weddings from Will Medina. I attended his free webinar and connected with him, and got sold of signing up to learn more about planning and organizing group travel and specializing in Destination Wedding. I had the desire to eventually learn & book Destination Weddings however I would do a disservice to my clients if I dive right in without proper training. Organizing group travel is way more difficult than planning an FIT, without proper systems in place – chaos could arise.
I was proud of showing up and attending every class as it paved the way to have my first successful 100 people wedding in 2022. I graduated with the title of “Destination Wedding Expert” and gained several new friends in the Travel Industry and built strong connections with the resorts and tour operators. The tools, systems, and connections that I have now are what sets me apart from others. Because of my expertise, many of my clients who worked with me had an exceptional wedding and travel experience.
What matters most to you?
What matters to me the most is the time I spend with my family and friends. We often get caught up with daily demands of our lives that we forget what really matters, the people around us that we love. I have two boys, they are 5 and 1 year old and making memories with them makes my heart glow. I love bringing them to different destinations and letting them experience to travel, as I always say there is more to life than your home town or city. Get out of your comfort zone, learn a new skill, try new food, and fall in love with a new culture. There is so much beauty around us, focus on the bright side of life and love hard.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://carolcvacations.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ccvacations/?igsh=cXh4Ymx2Y2R0ejRx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolcvacations?mibextid=LQQJ4d
