Tell us a little about yourself and how long you’ve been in the industry.
Travel is in my DNA. My mom was a flight attendant, so I started exploring the world with her (on standby!) at a very young age. As an adult, I spent several years working on luxury superyachts in the Mediterranean and Caribbean, then I moved to Bali to help rebrand and expand a beautiful family-owned resort. (I have a degree in communications from Simon Fraser University, so I put it to good use.) When the pandemic hit and everything shut down, I returned to Canada and found a home at Flight Centre. Now, I use my decades of communications, hospitality and travel experience to craft unforgettable vacations for my clients. For me, it isn’t just a job; it’s my life.
What do you specialize in and why?
I do my best work when I’m passionate about something, and my biggest loves are unique touches, sustainable travel and heartfelt moments. I love when clients give me a budget and free rein and I can spend my time researching hotels, restaurants and bespoke experiences they wouldn’t otherwise think of. I’m also passionate about trips that give back. I once went to Borneo on a Jane Goodall Collection tour with G Adventures. A portion of every booking supports wildlife conservation through the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada, and we were able to visit the rescued orangutans at the Sepilok rehabilitation centre. I want travel to mean something, and I love planning trips that change lives—whether it’s a tour in South Africa exploring new cultural perspectives or flights from Ukraine so a family can start over.
I recently read a study that women above the age of 50 will drive $746 billion in travel spending by 2035 – coming in right after millennials. Does that align with your clientele? What’s the age of the majority of your clients?
I see a range of people, but the majority fall into two categories. The first group is families who don’t have the time or expertise to book trips themselves. Then there’s the older demographic that is frustrated with online booking portals or has some disposable income and wants an expert to create an extraordinary itinerary. One of my clients is a single woman over 50. She’s incredibly well-travelled and she loves working with me to book authentic spiritual adventures. Next up, I have her going to see the Terracotta Warriors in China followed by back-to-back trekking tours—one in Nepal and Tibet and the next in Bhutan.
Are you noticing any interesting trends from the bookings you have? Are your clients still travelling to the U.S. with the ongoing tariffs?
My clients primarily travel internationally, not to the U.S., so my bookings haven’t been affected by the trade tensions. Lately, we seem to have a lot of clients planning European getaways, as well as trips across Canada to see family. No matter what’s going on in the world, I aim to be adaptive, resilient and positive. A big part of my role is reassuring travellers. I’m always ready on the other end of that call or email when they need extra help or someone to bring a smile to their face.
What’s your biggest piece of advice for travel advisors right now?
Stay organized and don’t take on more bookings than you can handle. It’s so important to offer your clients your undivided attention and be available when they need support—before, during and after their trips. I use a colour-coded calendar so I always know where everyone is at in the booking process, whether they need to check in for a flight or they’re landing back on the ground in Canada.
Tell us a little bit about a booking that stands out—whether it’s the most expensive, the longest, the most adventurous, etc.
I have a couple who are building a vacation rental in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. They want their family to visit them, so I’m booking a big trip that starts in Tanzania, including Zanzibar, and ends in Egypt. We worked on a tailor-made tour for the Egypt portion, which includes the Valley of the Kings in Luxor and the pyramids in Giza. It could be the mom’s last trip of her lifetime, so it’s been really special to be part of the planning.
What are your thoughts on FAM trips? Are they valuable? Why? Do they help you sell more? How can they be improved?
If I’ve visited a spot, I can speak to it wholeheartedly. It feels less like I’m selling and more like I’m sharing the magic of my experience—because I am! I’ve sold many trips based on my travels, because I’m able to speak to those places and tours with passion. I think FAM trips are most valuable when they highlight something you haven’t experienced before. Gaining real-life knowledge means you can add depth and authenticity to your interactions.
What’s the biggest challenge you are facing in the travel industry right now? What do you think can be done to help it?
The prices of airfare have increased, which is at least partially a supply-and-demand issue. But that doesn’t mean people need to stop travelling. The key is choosing destinations where your money will stretch further once you arrive. Southeast Asia is known for being affordable. You might experience some initial sticker shock when you book your flight but, once you get there, your budget is going to get you a much nicer hotel, better food, and on and on.
Do you have anything to add?
Honestly, I’m just happy to be here! I’m grateful to be a positive influence for responsible, sustainable travel and to be part of the memories that are woven into people’s lives. My clients know they can count on me and I love it when they return from their adventures and share their photos and memories. I’m also so grateful for the team that I work with. My two leaders, Nate and Christian, are phenomenal, next-level people. I haven’t met a Flight Centre travel expert who isn’t awesome and inspiring.
Nominator:
“Valery has a heart of gold and goes above and beyond for her clients. She takes every opportunity to learn about the new travel styles we offer so she can suggest the best match for her clients. Valery has a bubbly personality and her vast travel experience gives clients confidence in her managing their vacations.
She’s not afraid to get her hands dirty for the benefit of the planet – last August we cleaned up a beach and park together with the Flight Centre Broughton crew and we made it fun by “competing” to see who could collect the most garbage.
Her passion is for sustainable travel that benefits local people and when you ask Valery about sustainable travel, her face lights up! Valery is a wonderful agent to work with, and I’m honoured to have a platform to recognize her hard work and nominate her.”
