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Mandy McKenna shares the joy of traveling with others through planning services

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Mandy McKenna shares the joy of traveling with others through planning services

Tina Dettman-Bielefeldt
 |  For Green Bay Press-Gazette

With the internet making it easier to book flights and accommodations, you might think that travel agents are a thing of the past. But statistics show the opposite.

According to an August article in U.S. News and World Report and a survey taken at the end of 2023, millennials and Gen Z are behind the trend to favor traditional travel adviser services. A record 47% of those in that age group say they are using or plan to use in-person or online travel agents to book vacations.

The article said travel agents, with their knowledge of the industry, can often save a traveler money. And it’s hard to dispute the benefits of having someone else responsible for handling all of the details of the itinerary.

In fact, as time-consuming and tedious as it can be for most travelers, there are people like Mandy McKenna of Little Chute who love doing it. Just over a year ago, she started Travel with Mandy, a personalized travel planning service. And although she has had to supplement her income by working at various jobs during the startup phase, she’s ready to make the business her full-time profession.

“After graduating from travel school in 1997, it took me a few years to get into the industry,” she said. “I worked in car rentals and then at odd jobs before getting into a travel agency where I worked for more than 25 years. About 10 years ago, I started thinking that maybe I could do this on my own someday.”

It was in 2023 when she said she hit a fork in the road that had her thinking that the time might be right.

“I thought, ‘I’m going to do travel. I can do my own thing. Right or wrong, I can do this,’” she said.

It was as much of a personal decision as it was a business one. McKenna said she fell in love with travel when she visited the Bahamas with friends at age 17. When she returned home and excitedly told her mom about the trip, her mom suggested that she pursue a career in travel.

There have been dramatic changes since that first job when reservations were made by telephone and tickets were handwritten. There was no internet to research and contacts were made directly with vendors.

“Now we have the world at our fingertips,” she said.

That makes her job easier, but initially caused concern.

She said, “Agencies are now on an upward climb. It was a scare for a while because it seemed like people would think it was easier to make their own reservations and agencies would be unneeded, but the sector is rebounding. People are seeing the advantage of having a professional plan the details; they find value and comfort knowing that someone is taking care of them.”

Once McKenna decided to launch the business. it didn’t take long to start putting the pieces together. She formed an LLC, selected a name, obtained necessary permits, and created a website. But she soon realized that even though she had extensive experience and connections in the industry, she also needed to learn more about business.

That led her to the E-Seed Express Entrepreneurial Training Series at the Venture Center at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton. The course, led by Amy Pietsch, Venture Center director, focuses on the basics of starting and running a business. Classes are taught by experienced business people, and McKenna found it to be very helpful.

She said, “I recommend it to anyone and everyone who is thinking of starting a business. This course is here to help you decide if business ownership is for you. I signed up because I knew there was a lot I needed to learn.”

One of the most impactful lessons dealt with brand development. The instructor said that a business name should reflect what the business does, and McKenna realized that Travel with Mandy might give clients the impression that she leads every trip. In reality, the majority of the business consists of planning trips and selling specialized travel packages.

She will have a number of tours during the year that she is part of, but her main focus is on customized planning. For clarity, McKenna may consider rebranding at a later date, but for now, her name will remain.

Her slogan, “We’re here to get you there,” will not change. It is a foundational part of a marketing plan that she says is a work in progress. She has files and folders full of ideas that she’d like to implement, but she also has a business plan to finish first. The basics of creating the plan were part of the E-Seed Express training.

“Amy (Pietsch) has been an amazing resource for that and she has helped provide the information I need,” McKenna said. “It’s one of my first goals to finish the plan.”

In the interim, she tries to balance her to-do list with serving a growing clientele. Almost as soon as her Facebook page launched, she had people contacting her to plan trips. To provide the best options, she has a large network of travel suppliers and works with Avoya Agency, a network of 2,100 agents.

She has already planned more than 100 trips, and has several “tours with Mandy” in the works. Although there are many agencies that might offer similar services, she is defining her business in terms of offering personal service.

“I don’t concern myself with competition. We all have our different styles,” she said. “I keep on track by giving every client the best service I can, and concentrate on getting to know each one. I want to build a relationship. I’m not looking for one sale; I’m looking for someone who will work with me year after year.”

Her strength, she says, is her passion for travel. She has a difficult time listing favorite destinations because every trip is so unique — from the history to the culture to the scenery. Whenever she is part of a trip, tours will be enhanced by hiring skilled guides who have extensive knowledge of the destination.

While that will be a regular part of her tours, it will also be offered as an option for individual travelers. In addition, her services include planning tours and events like destination weddings, business trips, and family reunions.

As the business grows at a fast pace, McKenna said she is on track to go full time in the business in a few months. Word of mouth on social media is helping to get her name out there, but she also believes in the benefits of networking. She joined the Fox Valley Chamber and plans to attend travel-related events where she can share her elevator pitch.

“Hello, I’m Mandy McKenna, founder of Travel with Mandy,” she begins. “I have been creating unforgettable travel experiences with personalized customer care and meticulous attention to detail since 1999. Whether you’re looking to explore new cultures, connect with nature, or join one of my curated group trips, I’m here to turn your travel dreams into reality.”

Tina Dettman-Bielefeldt is co-owner of DB Commercial Real Estate in Green Bay and past district director for SCORE, Wisconsin.

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