By Cathy DeLozier photos courtesy of kathryn burns
Traveling internationally for the wine industry, Kathryn Burns has lived the mantra, “Work hard. Play hard.” She loved her job, but she loved the travel just as much. Working for LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy) and later, Ernest and Julio Gallo, she traveled to California, Italy, France, Australia and New Zealand.
During a chance meeting at a women’s luncheon at her church, Burns sat next to a woman about to embark on a trip to Australia and New Zealand. Burns enthusiastically told of her travels there and how wonderful the people are. The woman then asked where else she had traveled. After reciting a long list, she was encouraged to contact the woman’s husband who owned a local travel agency. Thus, Burns’ career as a travel agent began 13 years ago.
During the COVID pandemic, the travel agency closed, and Burns launched her own, partnering with Brownell Travel, the nation’s oldest travel agency. As the travel industry recovered, Burns’ business increased—subsequently winning numerous awards for her hard work, sales and client satisfaction.
When pressed about her success, Burns humbly credits her great team and Brownell’s support and network. “I always answer my phone,” she says and she has a lot of repeat business. “It’s so fun to plan a honeymoon for someone whose senior trip I planned several years ago.” Parents of that same client may later plan an anniversary, milestone birthday or retirement trip. “There are so many different categories of trips—spring break, senior trips, holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, summer vacations, girls’ trips, guys’ trips—we do it all.”
Burns continues, “Travel exposes you to so many perspectives—different priorities, different paces, different cuisines and cultures, different ways of living. Getting out of your routine is so beneficial.”
While she agrees with the sentiment of slowing down to savor life’s moments, Burns moves at a rapid pace, having taken a seven-day trip to Portugal with her high school girlfriends earlier this year, followed quickly by a 10-day family trip to Greece. In October she’ll fly to the Amalfi Coast on a hotel fact-finding work trip.
“I love to travel, and I love to plan travel for my clients,” Burns says. “I want them to put their foot on the plane in Birmingham and not worry about anything until they return home.”
Invest in a set of international chargers and converters.
Call your local bank before traveling to get cash in the currency of the country you’re traveling to for tips and incidentals. Sometimes, it takes a few days to get foreign currency, so allow enough time. You can always get more once you’re at your destination but having it on hand from the beginning is invaluable.
Call your cell phone provider to educate yourself about the $10 daily travel pass you can use while overseas. It’s cheaper than other alternatives but has specific guidelines. If traveling with multiple family members, you may want to limit travel passes to the parents only instead of every family member.
Make sure your passport is up to date and is not within six months of its expiration date. Many countries, including the U.S., consider a passport within six months of the expiration date the same as expired and will deny entry into the country. Check to see if Visas are needed.
Take all daily essentials, including medicine and contacts, as well as valuables such as money and jewelry with you in a carry-on. Do not put these items in checked luggage.
For packing, bring sensible, comfortable shoes, preferably tennis shoes. Raingear is always handy, and for women, a scarf or shawl is advisable to cover your head and shoulders when touring monasteries and churches overseas.
Working The Booking Process
⊇ Get help. “I know that seems selfish and self-promoting, but I truly believe
for most people, hiring a travel agent is the best option.”
⊄ Schedule the Discovery Call. “This is always a phone call. It’s important to talk to the person or people who want to travel, find out how many will be on the trip, where they want to go, what they want to do and what they want to accomplish.”
⊂ Discuss budget. Knowing how much the client wants to spend helps the
travel agent plan the trip accordingly.
Managing expectations is important.
⊆ Curate key activities and excursions. “You want to strike a balance on the pace and flow of the trip, as well as have
activities that everyone is excited about.”
∈ Proposal. About six months out, a
proposal is given to the client, much like an a la carte menu. “The proposal contains a list of the locations, with two to three hotels in different price points in each location, and four to five different tours and excursions from which to choose.” Once those choices are made, the itinerary is finalized.
∉ Book the trip. Typically, 30 percent is paid upfront, with the balance paid 60 days before departure.
∠ Flights and Insurance. “Once the
land package is confirmed, we book flights. I recommend buying insurance.
If something happens and you
cancel your trip, you’re going to be
disappointed. Don’t compound that
by losing money too.”
∇Travel Apps. Travel agents can set
up information in travel apps, such as Axus, that have all the details and
logistics of the trip in one place for
everyone who owns a phone. “No one needs to ask anyone else ‘Where are
we going?’ or ‘What time are our dinner reservations?’ It’s all on the app for everyone in the group; plane, train and theatre tickets, reservations for dinner and museum entries, hotel addresses and excursion contacts.”
“ Celebrate the value of family travel. “A favorite quote of mine is, ‘By the time your children are 18, they will have
spent 93 percent of the time they will
ever spend with you in their lifetimes.’
So, make some memories. Take
some trips.”
