​I know that 2020 has been a very trying year for all of us. Too much time on our hands, not able to socialize without being 6 feet apart, everything shut down. I’m feeling a bit of cabin fever myself.  It makes me ponder what my future travel options are, as well as my clients.  These are my thoughts:  I do believe that international travel is not going to be possible for the foreseeable future.  However, when wanderlust does hit, when you feel you need to make plans for an escape/getaway/break, a domestic trip to our beautiful 50 states is certainly within reach. Whether that be a city escape, ocean or country, to your favorite destination or a new one that’s been on your list, please let me know, I’m a champion at organizing road trips, tours, or whatever here at home.  

A year ago I never would have imagined I'd be here...during a pandemic, starting a business, in travel no less. It involved taking a huge leap of faith...and encouragement from my boyfriend, who saw how much I loved travel and missed it. 

I never realized how much I talked about it, or how I lit up when I heard snippets of people’s travel conversations. I’d find myself joining their conversation, whether they wanted me to or not. It was obvious to anyone chatting with me that I loved all things travel. And would talk for hours about it. 

It was time….to get back into it. I didn’t know how to be honest. I had closed down my old travel agency business a few years ago, dissolved it, closed all my accounts and gave up my domain. Oh how it hurt, 10+ years of my life gone; I just had no desire to be that go-to booking agent for a good while. I only knew how to be that travel agent with my late husband by my side. And now, my old travel business name was no longer available. I had to start fresh, brand spanking new, from scratch. New business name, new website, new host agency, new everything. To say it was daunting would be an understatement.

For months, I’ve been talking to everyone about restarting, and working hard to make it happen. It’s been a painfully slow process. Choosing the right host agency, business name, registering with the state, having a logo designed, the details were mind boggling some days. 

And then…Coronavirus happened. I wasn’t sure what that meant for me, as we all know, travel has been hard hit. It reminds me of my daughter entering college for travel and tourism in September 2011. She forged ahead and stayed in school. And now I am doing the same.

This is a rare opportunity for me, I now have the time I need to finally finish putting my business together. And to make the choice to, once again, be the travel entrepreneur and advisor I’ve always been. To be the voice of reason in a very confusing and difficult time.

​I am here and ready to help in any way I can to answer travel-related questions, offer hope, and encourage you to reach out when the world opens up and book your travel with a travel professional who has your best interest at heart. 

Here’s to my giant leap of faith! 

With much gratitude

Patti Maxwell, CTA
Travel Entrepreneur

“Stay home and hunker down” are not words that I, as a travel professional AND world traveler myself, ever thought I would give as advice. However, with the current COVID-19 situation and the need to be responsible, I totally understand that we all must socially distance ourselves and our family right now to help reduce the impact of this nasty new virus. ​