The Travel Agent Next Door

07/22/2024

Loved my sailing with Ama Waterways in France last week! Check out the Canadian residents specials which can be combined with the future cruise benefit I can add to your booking for an additional 5% savings!

04/26/2024

See Alaska while sailing on the Queen Elizabeth! Excellent pricing for the 10 day sailing Aug. 10! Send me a DM for info.

04/11/2024

The Majestic Capitols of the Danube: have a look and after, send me a message to receiving pricing on some AMAzing offers!

Five Minute Features highlights one of AmaWaterways newest river cruise itineraries ... the Majestic Capitals of the Danube taking you to 3 and even 4 Europe...

04/09/2024

Is this the year you will strike off an item from your to-see bucket list? Visit Africa! Enjoy the video featuring the Chobe River, a magnificent trip!

Friday's Five Minute Feature highlights an EXCLUSIVE product with AmaWaterways and that's our Wildlife River Cruising experience on the Chobe river in South ...

03/25/2024

Heard of Seabourn and want to know more? Here is your opportunity! Sign up for the webinar and learn all the things about Seabourn!

03/13/2024

Say yes to Jamaica!

As the leader in all-inclusive vacations, Playa Hotels & Resorts operates the best resorts in the best locations. Each Playa destination promises a seamless ...

03/05/2024

March 5, 1979, my work anniversary, celebrating 45 years as a travel advisor.

Forty-five years ago, fresh-faced and the proud possessor of my degree from Dordt College, I had no idea that a career in the travel industry was in my future. A cousin had just landed a position as secretary with the CLAC office in Toronto and needed a roommate. Was I interested in moving to Toronto with her? Sure ! Now to find a job there. Another friend, also a recent college graduate was also looking for work. We took the morning train to Toronto, found a cafe and a local paper and began scouring the help wanted ads. Yes, that's how you found work back then. A newly established call center for Holiday Inn's had openings for reservation agents. We called, made appointments for interviews that afternoon and by the end of the day, I had a job. Five months on, an agent at the call centre made mention of a travel agency in town that was looking for an agent. Dutch speaking an asset. I applied, interviewed, got the job and March 5 began my new role as a travel agent with Valentine Travel working with Baldwin Verstreate and Dirk Mast.

The industry in the early 1980's was not computerized. Tickets were hand written, you called the airlines to confirm reservations. Lower priced airfares required membership in a club such as DCAC. Charter airlines (Martinair) were a thing. Complex airfares required research using the OAG manual (Official Airline Guide) and/or calling the rates desk. Having to write tickets for a family of 6 meant you would experience hand cramps. All-inclusive vacation packages did not yet exist and each tour operator had to be called to ask about availability.

In time, modernization of booking systems began. Valentine Travel was a pilot agency for Air Canada to test their new accounting package and reservation system. File backup took 1 hour and the disc used was 3 inches high and two feet across! Printed tickets rather than hand written finally became the norm but we had to schedule a time each day for all tickets that needed to be issued. Lining up the ticket feed was crucial less all the tickets misfeed and misprint.

After 6 years or so in Toronto, a branch office of Valentine Travel was opened in St Catharines and I became the office manager there. Marriage and 4 children later, I took a step back and became a work from home mom as a commissioned sales agent. Once all the kids were in school, I resumed my full time role of office manager in the St Catharines office. Fast forward to April 2023 when I made a decision to step out of my comfort zone and became an independent contractor affiliated with The Travel Agent Next Door, an agency with 1100+ advisors across Canada. Best business decision ever. I should have listened to those who had been encouraging me to make this move for years.

Contrary to popular opinion of a few years ago, travel advisors did not become obsolete. The events of Covid vividly underlined the importance of having an advisor in your corner. i spent entire days on the phone protecting my clients and the funds they had invested in their travel plans. Travel is complex with many moving parts, Expertise and experience garnered over 45 years of travel and 1000's of workshops/webinars/seminars/product courses taken and attended over the years make my service extremely valuable. I cannot physically inspect every hotel, experience every tour or trip, but within my circle of contacts within the travel community (30K), an advisor has likely been there, done that and is more than willing to provide me with up to date information. My focus is my client's best interest - not mine, not the airline, hotel, resort, tour operator - but yours. It is your travel experience that is of utmost importance to me.

So, here I am, 45 years later, still in the biz and planning to continue for the foreseeable future. What's up next? Continue booking clients that have stayed with me for decades, book their kids and even grand kids. Work to collaborate with a local winery and plan a full ship charter to visit the wine region of France in 2025. Keep booking beautiful vacations to the Caribbean, Europe and anywhere else my clients wish to go and plan bucket list vacations. Continue learning and updating my knowledge. It's been a great ride and I'm looking forward to more years in this amazing industry

01/01/2024

In no particular order, a top ten list of great resorts in the Mayan Riviera. Where will you go?

12/12/2023

Contest for a chance to win a trip for 2 to Portugal with Air Canada ends Dec. 14th.
Get your entry in as you never know - it could be you!

11/14/2023

Winter & Holiday Sailings in the Med at a fraction of the regular price!

11/14/2023

My clients....here today....relaxing

11/13/2023

Snow is coming...

11/13/2023

11/09/2023

Black Friday specials are here! Exoticca, Scenic and Emerald are just a few.

See the Emerald River cruise specials here:

Read Emerald Cruises River Black Friday Sale -TRADE by Emerald Cruises Canada on Issuu and browse thousands of other publications on our platform. ...

11/01/2023

AMA Waterways is hosting a virtual consumer evening. Watch from the comfort of your home and learn all about AMA!

10/31/2023

https://youtu.be/WauTUdhrNLo?si=i1FbI7K-3K-RkKy-

The Rhine and Moselle.Beautiful rivers!

This Five Minute Feature features our Rhine and Moselle Splendours luxury river cruise experience with AmaWaterways from Luxermbourg to Basel with pre and po...

10/26/2023

Hope to see you Nov. 9! Don't forget to send me your RSVP.

10/26/2023

AMA Waterways is coming to town Nov. 9 to showcase their fabulous river cruises. Sessions are being held at the Hilton Garden Inn, Niagara on the Lake, 2.00pm and 6.30pm. RSVP required. Please let me know if you would like to attend!

08/24/2023

Sailing on the Rhine!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SnF5jLrEUA

08/24/2023

Magna on the Danube with AMA Waterways. Fantastic scenery, food and wine. For more information, please send me a DM or call 905 328 4262.

Friday's Five Minute Feature highlights the world's largest river cruise ship ... the AmaMagna by AmaWaterways on the Upper Danube from Budapest to Vilshofen...

08/22/2023

https://youtu.be/OdbLta1t3XQ

Interested in a European Christmas market cruise? Click the you tube link and learn all about the offers with AMA Waterways.

07/06/2023

Don’t get Carried Away with your Carry-On Items.

Airlines are getting strict with the size and the number of carry-on items that you can have with you.

Save the travel stress and ensure your carry-on bag meets the requirements before you leave the house and not risk being asked to check it

07/06/2023

Cruising on your mind? Check out these early booking specials with Princess Cruises and then send me a DM for more information.

06/24/2023

Early booking bonuses: reduced deposit of just $100 per person, half price of Option Flex Standard, price drop guarantee, a future travel credit and great rates! Send me a message if you need more info!

06/20/2023

Still some space available this fall! Give me a shout if you would like to know more.

05/23/2023

AMA Waterways, Christmas Market sailing! Limited availability. Free pre or post cruise stay in Vienna or Bucharest. 905.328.4262 or [email protected]

05/23/2023

Transat Holidays early booking bonuses are back!
https://fb.watch/kID27kEpRg/

05/23/2023

https://fb.watch/kID27kEpRg/

Early booking bonuses are here!! Call me at 905.328.4262.

05/16/2023

Make sure you visit my website and enter for your chance to win a FREE TRIP to Portugal!

https://rialishman.thetravelagentnextdoor.com

Enter for a chance to Win a 7-night Air Canada Vacations trip to Portugal!!