Owner, CEO Meaningful Escapes Boutique Travel Agency Please introduce and tell the readers about yourself. Hello, I am Teresa Tidwell-Smith, I claim two places of origin…Washington DC, where I was born and spent many summers and Columbia SC where I was reared and attended District One Schools: graduating from Columbia High School and attended Midlands Technical College. I have two young adult daughters whom I am loving to watch grow into beautiful young ladies. My career in the travel industry really started as a child reading books that took me outside of my environment. I loved reading in the Book Mobile and visiting the library with friends. I was intrigued by the places, cultures, and events in other cities through the books I read in early years of childhood. When I was 14 years old, I took my first flight on Piedmont Airlines. I was intrigued by the Flight Attendants and how they made my mother and I feel comfortable and welcomed. It was my mother’s first flight as well. She won the trip as a contestant on the Price is Right when they visited Columbia. At the time, I never dreamed I would become a Flight Attendant. A mere 10 years later I was a Flight Attendant with Piedmont Airlines. I went on the retire with US Airways after 21 1/2 years of flying the friendly skies. I am grateful and blessed to have had the opportunity to do something I loved an open so many other avenues for me. During my career at US Airways, I served on several committees dedicated to implementing new procedures and services that had a direct impact on our passenger’s experience while flying with us. I also received several Above and Beyond Excellence Awards during my tenure. I was selected to train with British Airways to implement their First Class/Main Cabin Service procedures to US Airways London route in 1994. What is the name of your business and how did you get started? I am the owner of Meaningful Escapes Boutique Travel Agency, where I get to hone my passion for travel and share it with my clients by creating extraordinary Escapes. Getting started in this side of the travel business took years of finding the right fit for me. The travel industry is vast with many different components, cruising, flights, hotels, events, places, etc. Of course, when your first start you think you can do it all. But the best way is to narrow your focus and decide on a niche market. My agency has evolved and shifted as I have in my life. I plan escapes that are meaningful, transformative, and peaceful, incorporating wellness, mindfulness, and spirituality. Creating these type of experiences takes more research to produce the right destination, resort, and excursions to fit my client’s needs. Which means I must be knowledgeable of all the areas mentioned and knowing my clients. I meet with each client or chat with them over the phone as we go through a survey so I learn about them and they can learn about me and how my process works. I gather pertinent information to properly plan for them. I know you offer travel services to couples, groups, and business retreats. Tell me what is most rewarding about your business? The most rewarding things about my business is when my clients return from their Escape and tell me they had an amazing experience. That sends me over the moon! Or, when I have a first time Solo Traveler share their experience of travel freedom, where their itinerary is solely designed for one. I also love hearing from my Retreat attendees expressing the love of the location, accommodations, and the peaceful and transformative experience that they remember for months after their travel. I also love hearing from my Retreat attendees expressing the love of the location, accommodations, and the peaceful and transformative experience that they remember for months after their travel.
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