Exploring Life & Business with Jana Smith of Main Street Travel, LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jana Smith

Hi Jana, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I launched Main Street Travel in January 2008 after experiencing a less than stellar stint as an Independent Contractor for another agency. Prior to this, my husband and I hosted a popular podcast about Walt Disney from 2005 to 2012, which opened the doors to my career in selling vacations to Walt Disney World.

After working as an Independent Contractor, it became clear to me that I could run things much better. I took a leap of faith and started my own agency. It has been a life-changing journey since then. The agency I formerly worked with said I’d never succeed doing this on my own, but I set out to prove them wrong. And I did.

Initially, my goal was to replace my full-time income, which I achieved. Then I aimed to replace my husband’s full-time income—and succeeded in that, too. I’m proud to say that I’ve not only been successful in selling vacations myself, but I’ve also built a team of Independent Contractors who I’ve guided towards their own successes. Now, my goal is to help others replace their full-time incomes with this fulfilling career, and it’s incredibly gratifying to see that happening.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Overall, the journey has been fairly smooth, with learning and growing in my experience of planning vacations being a delightful adventure. It doesn’t feel like work because I genuinely enjoy what I do. However, there have certainly been challenging times. The height of that challenge was during the COVID-19 pandemic. That year was incredibly tough for many in the travel industry. Unfortunately, not all travel agencies, travel agents, or even hotels and destinations made it through. We witnessed many businesses shut down due to the significant losses they suffered as a result of the world coming to a standstill. Thankfully, we made it through, and we thank God for that every day.

Another challenge I have faced is learning how to manage people. Understanding what makes some people tick can be tricky, as personalities vary widely, and some team members need more support than others. Despite these challenges, I’ve managed to create a leadership style that tends to work well across most personality types.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Main Street Travel is a premier travel agency dedicated to creating unforgettable vacation experiences. We handle every detail of planning and booking personalized trips, making the journey as seamless and enjoyable as possible for our clients.

We specialize in a wide array of destinations and activities, from enchanting family vacations to Walt Disney World to luxurious getaways in exotic locales. Our expertise spans all-inclusive resorts, cruises, European tours, adventure travel, and more. Additionally, we are proud to specialize in student/youth group travel, providing exciting and educational travel opportunities for young adventurers.planning and booking personalized trips, making the journey as seamless and enjoyable as possible for our clients.

–Sandals & Beaches Resorts in the Caribbean, where we hold specific expertise. Main Street Travel, LLC is a Preferred Sandals & Beaches Agency, showcasing our deep knowledge and special status with these luxurious resort brands.
–Cruises: Including Viking Cruises, renowned for their cultural and scenic river journeys.
–Student/Youth Group Travel: We provide exciting and educational travel opportunities for young adventurers and are proud members of both the Student & Youth Travel Association (SYTA) and the American Bus Association (ABA).
–Theme Parks: We are an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, Earmarked since 2012, and a Universal U-Preferred Agency, offering comprehensive planning services for these top family destinations.

Our agency is renowned for our engaging, personalized service. We pride ourselves on providing tailored itineraries that cater specifically to our clients’ needs, preferences, and dreams. Our tagline, “Your Vacation, Your Way,” reflects our commitment to crafting unique and memorable travel experiences.

Main Street Travel is more than just a travel agency; we’re a dedicated team passionate about delivering the best in travel planning and personalized service. We believe in making every journey special, as every client deserves a vacation tailored to their desires. Our commitment to going above and beyond sets us apart, ensuring that memories crafted with Main Street Travel last a lifetime.

What’s next?
Our future plans include expanding our Student/Youth Group travel business to cater to a broader audience. While we currently provide exceptional travel experiences for students and youth, we aim to offer group trips that appeal to travelers of all ages. As we believe that everyone loves to travel, we want to create diverse and inclusive group travel opportunities.

Additionally, we plan to continue growing our team of Independent Contractors. By providing the tools, training, and support they need, we aim to help more people achieve financial freedom through vacation planning. Our goal is to cultivate a community of successful travel advisors who share our passion and commitment to delivering personalized travel experiences.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mainstreettravelco.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mainsttravelco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MainStreetTravelCo
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrGF0ZyiWofldyJ4dcf6yeA
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mainsttravelco?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc