Today we’d like to introduce you to Geneice Hodge.
Hi Geneice, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
“Don’t count the days, make the days count.” Muhammed Ali.
Travel is my hobby and mentoring future travelers to climb into their travel dreams is my passion. I am a mom of 2 beautiful and intelligent children who loves to explore new Caribbean Islands. As a young child, I always wanted to explore the Caribbean but my parents couldn’t afford an All-Inclusive resort. I always dreamt about traveling to the Caribbean islands and relaxing on the beach. I even visited NYC beaches and envision myself on a beach with white sand and turquoise water while enjoying various cuisines!! I am a travel foodie!
“Live life to the fullest.”
On October 15, 2011, my brother, Fritz Jr. Angel Kersaint. transitioned at the age of 19 due to unknown cancer. He always wanted to travel to the Caribbean and Japan since He loved animation!!!
He even had a free trip to Japan!! I remember when he contacted me and wanted me to join him on the trip. He said Geniece guess what we are going to Japan… I was excited speaking to him about our plans even though I knew it wasn’t going to happen. Why not envision ourselves on a bucket list trip despite circumstances?
After my brother transitioned in 2011, I made a promise I will travel for both of us and leave my footprints at every destination as a memory of my brother, Fritz Jr. Angel Kersaint.
In 2017, I have decided to relive my childhood memories by creating a memorable travel experience for future generations and following my passion for me and my brother. I opened up a digital travel agency, Indi Star Destinations LLC, to mentor future travelers including moms in creating everlasting memories without looking at the price tag or feeling guilty leaving their children while they are on vacation. I saw that many non-experienced travelers were struggling to adapt to planning dream getaways without any assistance and I knew that there was an opportunity to create a modern, virtual platform that made it easy for people to plan and book their travels without any hassles with a trusted a travel concierge also known as a travel agent.
I began researching and learning about the travel industry, and I quickly realized that there was a lot to consider when it came to creating a successful travel business. I spent a lot of time learning about things like destination marketing, travel trends, and customer service. I also spent time building relationships with suppliers and partners and working on developing a strong online presence.
In the end, all of my hard work paid off and I was able to build my brand as Indi Star Destinations Travel Agency. It has been a challenging and rewarding journey, and I am grateful for the opportunity to help people especially single moms to plan and book the travels of their dreams. I believe that my agency provides a valuable service to travelers, and I am excited to see where the business will take me in the future.
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?
As a travel concierge, the struggle can often be challenging. No, it hasn’t been a smooth road but we managed to make it through narrow roads to reach our destination.
With the rise of online booking websites and travel apps, the industry has faced significant challenges in recent years.
Many people now prefer the convenience of booking their own vacations and trips, rather than going through a travel agent. One of the biggest struggles as a travel agent is competition from these online platforms. It can be difficult to convince potential clients to book through a travel agent when they can easily compare prices and options on their own. This means that travel agents have to work harder to differentiate themselves and provide added value to their clients.
Another struggle is the constantly changing landscape of the travel industry. Flights, hotels, and tour prices are constantly fluctuating, which can make it difficult for my agency to keep up and provide accurate and current information to their clients. It’s important for travel agents to stay up-to-date on the latest deals and promotions, in order to stay competitive and offer the best options to their clients.
In addition to the challenges posed by technology and the industry itself, my agency also has to deal with the demands and expectations of its clients. Planning a vacation can be stressful, and clients may have specific requests or needs that can be difficult to accommodate. It’s up to my agency to do its best to make its clients’ vacations as smooth and enjoyable as possible, while also managing their own workload and deadlines.
Another struggle is time management with managing a digital travel business, working full-time in an emergency room, and taking care of my responsibilities in my household. I have learned the secret of time management is creating a daily calendar and writing down your habits.
Despite these struggles, I find great joy and satisfaction in my work and in helping clients climb into their dreams. I find great joy in watching my children asking questions about travel. I get to help people plan and experience breathtaking vacations, and the opportunity to travel and learn about new destinations is an added incentive
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I work full-time in a busy emergency room as a medical assistant and part-time digital travel concierge. I specialize in Caribbean travel specifically Mexico and Jamaica for single mothers and millennial travelers. I am known for my passion for helping prospective clients. Also, I am known for kindness and communicating with clients in explaining the details of their vacation. I have friends and clients called me “Jamaica” since I love visiting Jamaica and planning Jamaica getaways. Yes, I decided to become a Jamaica travel specialist aka One Love Agent.
I am proud of my accomplishments as a virtual travel concierge. I am proud of helping brand-new travelers leave their hometowns to explore a new environment. Also, I am proud of helping clients save on their dream Caribbean travel.
Being an authentic travel concierge sets me apart from others. I believe in order to have a positive relationship with clients it is essential, to be honest with clients to avoid any type of hassle or miscommunication.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Never quit on your vision. Stay focused no matter what situation comes your way. Life will throw curve balls but your passion will dodge the curve balls and keep going in your career. The COVID-19 crisis was a perfect example of a bond that is inseparable between you and your vision. The majority of travel agents quit due to low travel volume and believed travel will never bounce back.
Two years later, travel has increased in volume!! TSA lines are out of control!!! Tsa-pre has been placed in Staples retail stores. New hotels are opening in the next two years. I have booked and am busy!!! I have reached my commission goal!! Can you imagine if I had quit on my dreams due to the pandemic?! I would have failed myself as an entrepreneur. Yes, it was a lesson learned to test your strength as an entrepreneur.
Pricing:
- All-Inclusive resorts start at $600 per person
- Caribbean cruises start at $300 depending on the cruise line and the length
- Free phone consultation with Indi Star Destinations
- Group service fees depend on the size of the group. A minimum in a group is 6 or more
- Travel service fees start at $35 depending on the number of travelers
Contact Info:
- Website: www.indistardestinations.com
- Instagram:www.instagram.com/travelwithneici
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TravelwithNeici
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/travelwithneici
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSwzwnuRBq3iXZeFz6atcWQ
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/indi-star-destinations-bronx-5
- Other: https://linktr.ee/travelwithneici
