Today we’d like to introduce you to Tonia Osborne.
Hi Tonia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, my passions for writing and travel bloomed during my college years at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA. My experiences would become the background for my debut fiction novel, Fashionably Deceptive, and later my travel blog turned travel company, Travels by Tonia.
When I’m not working on my next novel, I am traveling the world, blogging, and helping others to curate memorable travel experiences. Through my international and domestic travels, I have been able to give readers and clients access to not only competitive prices, but also recommended travel accommodations, must visit locations, and tips to make the most out of any vacation. Currently, I have traveled to over 30 countries and counting and look forward to continuing to curate travel experiences for myself and my clients.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Greatness is not measured by what a man or woman accomplishes, but by the opposition, he or she has overcome to reach his goals. – Dorothy Height
While COVID has impacted many industries, owning a travel company in the midst of the pandemic has been on of the most challenging things that my business has had to overcome thus far. 2020 was projected to be a revenue positive year, but with the lockdown came cancellations from almost every client booked for travel that year. However, instead of focusing on the negative impact of COVID, I used that time to start a documentary series called Ninety2Nites that highlights black-owned businesses to patronize on your domestic travels. This documentary series started in Portland, and the first episode that highlights Trap Kitchen PDX, Abbey Creek Winery, and Releaf Dispensary can be found on our YouTube Channel.
This project also inspired our company to start focusing on more intentional travel by patronizing local business owners in travel destinations with an economy that relies on tourism. As a former educator, I believe in always learning and growing, and in conjunction with changing our business model to incorporate more intentional travel, I also spent 10 weeks in the SURE Program at the University of Houston, a program which partners minority business owners instructors, mentors, and consultants to create and/or revamp our current business plans. This program was instrumental in the expansion of Travels by Tonia and is the reason that I was able to leave my career to pursue full-time entrepreneurship in June of 2022.
During the pandemic, I also created The Journal of a Wanderluster. This travel journal was designed with the wanderluster in mind and comes with all of the tools to plan your next best vacation from start to finish. It can be purchased on our website.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
One of the things that set Travels by Tonia apart from other travel companies is that our company is owned by a travel expert that has been to over 30 countries thus far. From traveling during COVID to managing cancelled and/or delayed flights, our social media pages, website, and YouTube channel are filled with FREE resources to help navigate and/or maximize travel experiences. Whether you need travel planning services or resources to plan your trip on your own, Travels by Tonia has something for every traveler.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
As someone that was born and raised in Houston, I love that our city is super diverse and has the restaurant scene to prove it. You can find almost any cuisine in Houston, and we have an amazing foodie scene. However, as our city is becoming more widely recognized for food and nightlife, our crime rate has increased, as well.
Pricing:
- Travel Quote Request $50
- Group Travel Quote Request $100
- Wanderlust Journal- Starts at $35
Contact Info:
- Website: www.travelsbytonia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travelsbytonia/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/travelsbytonia
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/travelsbytonia
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TravelsbyTonia
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/toniasparkles/
Image Credits
JussFresh Media
Green Rebel Photos
