Running a successful travel business can be a dream come true — and also a fast track to burnout.
After the pandemic when my clients started travelling again, business came back with a vengeance. By mid-2023, my business was booming, but behind the scenes, I was struggling. I was working 15-hour days trying to stay on top of all the administration that comes with managing over $1 million in travel sales annually. I was stretched thin, drowning in client follow-ups, quote requests, and workflow tasks. I found myself turning clients away because I couldn’t get back to them quickly enough.
Then, just in time, I stumbled across a course “Assistants That Work” created by a fellow travel advisor who had once stood in my shoes. She had developed a Travel Advisor focused course offering expert guidance on identifying your business’s needs, finding the right assistant, and implementing efficient systems to maximize productivity, also providing access to proven systems and technologies that would streamline operations and enable seamless collaboration with a Virtual Assistant (VA) — someone trained specifically to support busy travel professionals like me. I enrolled in the Systems & Assistants That Work course, paired it with an “Inbox Zero” challenge, and by August 2024, I hired a bright, talented VA based in Cebu, Philippines.
Since then, everything has changed.
For 20 hours per week, my VA, Syra, works behind the scenes at Fenton Travel with quiet efficiency and unwavering dedication. She manages new client onboarding, keeps workflows on track, handles payment reminders and invoices, supports social media and clients’ digital itinerary creation, and even drafts client communications.
With Syra’s help, I’ve been able to step into the role of CEO, focusing more on serving my clients and growing the business — rather than doing all the cumbersome administrative stuff myself.
This transformation wouldn’t have been possible without the partnership with Greenpath, an agency that trains and supports VAs in purpose-driven, heart-centered support for small business owners. Their mission, to improve the lives of Entrepreneurs & Virtual Assistants through connection, community and coaching, has truly changed both Syra’s life and mine. And the Systems & Assistants That Work course gave me the tools, tech, and mindset to finally let go of the overwhelm and realize that I can “REVIEW” rather than “DO” all the work myself.
The Icing on the Cake—
Last month, I had the privilege of joining a week-long educational tour hosted by the Philippines Tourism Board — and while there, I arranged to meet with Syra in person. It was incredibly special. Though we’ve worked side-by-side (virtually) for almost a year, meeting in real life felt like reconnecting with a long-lost friend.
We share so many values, ethics and work habits — a credit to Greenpath’s thoughtful matching process, which pairs VAs with advisors based on shared traits using a Kolbe-style assessment. I didn’t fully understand how it worked at the time, but it clearly did — it’s easy to see why our partnership fits so naturally.
Our five hours together at the hotel in Cebu flew by. We exchanged meaning gifts, took a refreshing dip in the resort pool, and chatted nonstop — mostly about life in Canada and the Philippines, our families, and how our lives have improved since we started working together. We wrapped up with coffee and more conversation before saying a heartfelt goodbye. Watching Syra head off for her hour-long commute home honestly felt like saying farewell to one of my own kids.
Meeting Syra made everything feel more real, more personal, and deeply meaningful.
It reminded me that behind every task and email is a person who genuinely cares — and that kind of partnership is something to be valued, nurtured, and appreciated every day.
During a call this week with MaryBeth Lynn — the founder of Systems & Assistants That Work — and a group of fellow travel advisors currently working with VAs, we were discussing plans for an in-person workshop in the Philippines next February. To my surprise, Syra shared a heartfelt video (see below) about what it meant to finally meet me in person last month. I hadn’t known they’d asked her to contribute, so her message truly caught me off guard — in the best way — and left me feeling deeply moved.
If you or your business could benefit from the services of a VA and you’d like more info, I’d be happy to share my experience hiring and working with a VA.
🌍 Ready to Start Planning Your Next Adventure?
With more time and support behind the scenes, I’m now able to take on more custom travel planning — and I’d love to help you make your next trip unforgettable.
👉 Click below to schedule your consultation or reply to this email with your ideas!
