Debbie Garcia CMP shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Debbie, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
I lose track of time whenever I’m creating solutions — building systems, mentoring planners, or reimagining how to make sourcing less overwhelming. There’s something about solving problems in a way that makes life easier for event professionals that pulls me into a flow where hours disappear.
I find myself again with my family. My son plays soccer, my daughter dances, and we’re also a host family for two academy soccer players chasing their dreams. Add in our love for Nashville SC — we’re season ticket holders — and it’s safe to say soccer runs deep in our home. Those moments, whether on the sidelines or around the dinner table, ground me and remind me why I created virsitour in the first place: to give people back more time for what really matters.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Debbie Garcia, CMP, founder and CEO of virsitour — a digital agency of the future built for the meetings and events industry. I started virsitour during the pandemic out of necessity: I lost my job, my commissions disappeared overnight, and yet my clients still needed solutions. Out of that moment, I created a platform that combines virtual site tours, visuals, and smarter RFP tools to make sourcing and planning faster, easier, and more human.
What makes us unique is that virsitour bridges the worlds of planners, suppliers, and destinations — we’re not just about finding a hotel or space, but about helping people make qualified decisions before they ever send an RFP. At the same time, we serve as a true partner, connecting the community in ways that reduce burnout and create better outcomes.
Right now, we’re focused on expanding partnerships with destinations, onboarding suppliers globally, and continuing to give planners free tools that help them plan more efficiently. At the end of the day, virsitour is about giving people back time — so they can focus on what really matters, whether that’s their event vision or their lives outside of work.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Honestly, I was a bit of a strange kid — but in the best way. I loved what I loved, and I threw myself into it fully. I was a gymnast from an early age well into my teens, a total theater nerd who performed in countless shows, a drummer in the school band and drum corps through college, and even a cheerleader for six years. I also loved creating little “radio shows” with my karaoke machine, pretending I was broadcasting to an audience. Performing and expressing myself in different ways was where I felt most alive.
Looking back, I realize I was always creating my own path instead of following someone else’s. That mix of discipline, creativity, and individuality shaped me into the entrepreneur I am today. I’ve never been afraid to blend seemingly opposite worlds or challenge “how it’s supposed to be done” — and that’s the same mindset that led me to create virsitour.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
One of the deepest wounds of my life was the pandemic. Overnight, I lost my job, my sourcing commissions, and the stability I had worked so hard to build. On top of that, I was home with two kids who still needed me to show up as their mom, even when I was scared and uncertain. At the same time, I watched my peers lose their jobs and an entire industry shut down, unsure if it would ever come back.
That season could have broken me — but instead, it pushed me to reimagine what was possible. I went deep into my past and asked: what can we do better? My lifelong tie to video, paired with my natural drive for systems and order, gave me a unique lens to see solutions others couldn’t. Out of that came virsitour — not just as a way to survive, but as a way to help our industry rise again with better tools, stronger connections, and a vision for the future.
Healing didn’t mean erasing the wound. It meant transforming it into innovation, creating something that could give planners and suppliers hope, efficiency, and community at a time when we all needed it most.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes — but not in the shallow “what you see is what you get” sense. For me, authenticity isn’t about being unfiltered; it’s about being deeply connected to people in a real way. I’ve never been drawn to the flashy side of business or leadership. What matters most is impact over income — creating something meaningful that genuinely helps others. My need to support people, whether it’s peers in the industry, clients, or my own family, shows up in everything I do.
At the same time, I’m very much a leader and an achiever. I don’t shy away from big goals or ambitious visions — I thrive on them. But I believe leadership without authenticity doesn’t last. The public version of me is the same person you’d meet offstage: someone who leads with both heart and drive, and who measures success by the impact I leave behind as much as by the milestones I reach.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I left a mark — not just in business, but in people’s lives. That I built something that mattered for an industry that needed change, but more importantly, that I cared deeply for the people around me. Sometimes, as a leader or entrepreneur, it can feel invisible — the long nights, the sacrifices, the unseen work. But my hope is that, in the end, people recognize that I led with heart.
I want my kids to say that their mom raised them with love and intention, even while building something bigger than herself. That they saw firsthand what resilience and vision look like. And I hope my peers and colleagues say that I helped them see their own worth, find their purpose, and fulfill their dreams.
Legacy for me isn’t about titles or awards — it’s about the ripple effect. If my work and my life gave people more courage, more clarity, or more belief in themselves, then that’s the story worth telling.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.virsitour.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virsitour
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/virsitour
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/virsitour
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@virsitour
