How GWA Travel Collective was born
Welcome to the GWA Travel Collective Blog! My name is Gina Atkins, and I’m thrilled to introduce you to my travel agency. It’s been a labor of love and I’m so proud of how it has developed to where we are today.
Antelope Canyon, April 2018
My Story
In 2021 a woman reached out to me on social media with the idea of becoming an independent travel advisor. I was giddy at the idea. You see, in my spare time on Saturday mornings I would spend hours planning trips for myself and my husband. Adventures that I would hope to accomplish one day. Why you ask? For Fun. I got pure joy out of researching routes for multi-city trips, or the best boutique hotels of the world, exciting excursions and must-try restaurants. Plus, if my husband asked, do you want to go to Thailand for our anniversary next year? Yes! I have the perfect itinerary all ready to go. Or, if a friend texted me and said, hey, do you want to do a road trip out west next summer? Absolutely! I have the perfect 9 day itinerary for us. I was always prepared.
As a Human Resources Director I didn’t have the faintest idea at how to become a travel agent at the time, but now that the opportunity had presented itself, I had to take advantage of it. I dove in head first, soaking up of all of the training I could. I started telling friends and family that I could now book travel, and one of my first clients was a friend of my sister, she wanted to have a destination wedding. I myself, had a destination wedding, so when she called to ask me advice, I said, you know I could help you plan this for you so it’s one thing off your plate - and boom I was off the races.
Still working a corporate day job in HR, I was working on nights and weekends in my travel business. Yes, it was a lot of work, but I enjoyed every single minute of it. My first year in 2021 I booked just shy of $250k in travel sales working very part-time. In 2022 I replicated that, however I was beginning to get burnt out. Between my corporate job responsibilities increasing, and the everyday stresses of life, I had a breakdown in November of 2022.
I invested in a burnout clinic, and it was here that I found clarity on what I wanted my future to look like. I recognized that the pandemic changed my love for HR, it wasn’t the same. I noticed that when I was working on travel-related things, I was happy, passionate, motivated, creative, all the positive feelings. I thought to myself - what IF I could do this travel gig full-time? I developed a plan to leave my corporate HR job within 2 years.
So in May of 2023 I invested in Careers on Vacations by Cyndi Williams to help me learn how to open up my own agency. I knew that if I wanted to do this full-time, it would have to be for myself and not under my host agency. By August of 2023, I couldn’t handle the shenanigans and politics of my job and after crunching some numbers with my husband I decided to take the major leap of faith and resign from my HR position. Yes, this was WAY earlier than expected, but I was betting on me that I was going to be successful. I realized that I couldn’t give 100% to starting a new business and a 100% to my corporate job. So in October of 2023 I announced to the world that I opened up my new agency AND I was leaving HR behind to pursue this FULL-TIME!
The support from the community was overwhelming positive and it fueled me to go hard. December 22, 2023 I walked away from my 15 year Human Resources career into the unknown. I was taking a big scary leap of faith, but I realized that it was worth it because I didn’t want to wonder “what if” anymore.
So as of January 2024 GWA Travel Collective was officially full-time!
What Does the Name GWA Travel Collective Mean?
Many people think it’s my initials of my name - kinda! When I started out in the travel industry my persona was Gina Wanders Around. That was my handle on Instagram and Facebook. So I just ended up calling my business Gina Wanders Around Travel. I knew that when I started my own business that I, myself wanted to be a host agency. That means that I wanted to help other women become travel advisors too, so I didn’t want the brand to be my name necessarily. However, keeping with the theme, I went with GWA (aka Gina Wanders Around) Travel Collective. I chose the word collective, as an elevated approach to community and a group who comes together to achieve a common goal or purpose.
So I can join GWA Travel Collective as a Travel Advisor?
Yes! Not only do I plan custom elevated experiences for my travel clients, I also mentor other travel advisors who have a passion for turning their travel planning skills into passive income. If you’re interested in learning more about this, reach out on the contact us page and request my info packet!
What exactly is an Elevated Curated Experience?
I found that the word luxury can scare off some people. In reality, luxury means something different to everyone. Maybe it’s a private tour. Maybe it’s a swim-out pool suite. Or a private villa where a chef can come in and cook you delicious local delicacies. So I went with elevated, because I want to help every day people elevate their travel experiences. Curated is what I do to craft the trip specifically to your travel preferences and desired outcomes. Whether it’s a multi-city trip in Europe or Japan, a luxury cruise in Asia, or a boutique hotel experience in the Caribbean, I strive to wow you.
Why Choose Us?
1. Personalized Service: We believe that your travel experience should be as unique as you are. That’s why we offer personalized travel planning and tailor-made itineraries. No cookie-cutter packages here—just bespoke adventures designed with you in mind.
2. Expert Knowledge: Our team of travel experts has extensive knowledge of destinations around the globe. We stay up-to-date with the latest travel trends, hidden gems, and must-see attractions to ensure you get the most out of your journey.
3. Seamless Experience: From the moment you contact us until you return home, we handle all the details. Flights, accommodations, activities, and even restaurant reservations—we’ve got it all covered so you can relax and enjoy your trip.
4. No 1-800 Numbers: Travel can be unpredictable, but we’re here to help every step of the way. We are here to support you, one phone call, text, or email away.
So What’s Next?
I invite you to explore our website, connect with us on social media. Follow our blog for travel tips, destination guides, and stories from fellow travelers. We’re excited to share our knowledge and passion with you, and we can’t wait to help you plan your next adventure.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. Together, let’s explore the world and create memories that will last a lifetime. Ready to start planning your adventure? Contact us today, and let’s turn your travel dreams into reality! Drop a comment below to say hi and where you’re from!
Happy travels,
Gina Atkins
Founder & CEO, GWA Travel Collective