Boomerang Escapes — breathing easier in the final quarter | Travel Research Online

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Boomerang Escapes — breathing easier in the final quarter

Here we are, nearly the end of October. The leaves are falling from the trees, temperatures are descending, and the year is rapidly coming to a close. I have had to turn my heat on as I write this morning. My blood is still thin from my 13 years in Tennessee, but I have to say I am adapting and loving my new location here in New Jersey.

With conference and FAM season slowing itself down, I have been able to begin to settle in to my new digs here. The relocation has been a great transition for me. During my last trips in September and October, I met several new agents here in New Jersey as well as reconnecting with others in the surrounding area. The new connections and friendships have afforded me a great opportunity to discover what travel industry opportunities are available in the area. Thanks to my close proximity to NYC and my lovely new friends, I have been able to attend several trade and supplier events, giving me the opportunity to let them know about me and my agency in New Jersey. It is a great opportunity to increase my industry knowledge.

These last two weeks alone, I have met with Belize Tourism, Karisma Resorts, and Travel2. Coming down the pike to finish up my month, I will be meeting with Spain, Chile, Carnival Cruise Lines, and Vacation Express. While my specialty is Australia and the South Pacific, I feel as an agency owner I need to keep apprised of all things going on to pass pertinent information onto my ICs and offer my repeat clients choices that give them a change. I may want to go to Australia every year, but my clients may want to take their adventure travels elsewhere.

Thanks to my connections with Travel2 and my new found home near NYC, I was also able to participate in a fundraising event for Haiti. My Travel2 sales manager, Melissa Watt, provided me the opportunity to join her in a Zumba event at her Zumba studio where we exercised for an hour. Participants’ donations went to fund relief efforts in Haiti after Hurricane Matthew’s wake. Having been in the Dominican Republic at the same time the hurricane passed and being spared damage on our side of the island, I was happy to have the opportunity to give back to those less fortunate.

The event was aptly timed for me, as the last quarter, particularly November, has always been a season of thanks and the time of year I take the opportunity to give back to my community and to those things nearest and dearest to my heart. Since opening the agency, I have adopted a koala each year from Save the Koala Foundation and last year joined Sleepy Burrows Wombassadors. Both communities support conservation efforts for two of Australia’s most well-known creatures: the koala and the wombat. I’m always excited to scroll through the photos of koalas to see which one will be added to our Boomerang Escapes family. Currently our little family has Cinnamon from Dreamworld Brisbane, Cooper from Featherdale Wildlife Park in Sydney, and Matilda from Ballart Wildlife Park in Victoria. The fun part is that when I am in country in these regions and visit these parks I can take time to see my little bundle of joy in person. So, will it be a boy or will it be a girl this year? I will let you know next time in my closing remarks as the 2016 Travel Agent Diaries come to an end.

Lisa Rossmeissl is the owner of Boomerang Escapes, a home-based agency located in Memphis, Tennessee New Jersey. She has been a professional travel consultant since 2008 and specializes in Australia and the South Pacific. Australia, Tahiti, Fiji, and Cook Islands are among the specialist certificates she holds.  Her agency’s focus is on creating itineraries with their client’s wants, desires, and budgets in mind.  She and her planners believe in getting to know the traveler to ensure they have a vacation to remember.  With each planner specializing in a different market area, Boomerang Escapes can offer a wide ride of leisure vacation planning.

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