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Je=
nnifer
Zwicky
Escapes by Jen (Stuart, FL)
"Don’t just escape, make it a GREAT escape!" <=
/span>
![3D"Jennifer](3D"NexionNewsletter-MemberSpotlight_files/image003.jpg")
Jen =
has
been in and out of the travel industry for more than 21 years and joined
Nexion this past April. She started in the hotel industry and worked with
World Wide Sportsman and Bass Pro Shops as a sportsf=
ishing
travel specialist. She currently books both corporate and leisure travel,
including destination weddings and sportsfishing
excursions. Here’s her brochure.
Nexion:
Your Nexion Town profile says you’re a W=
eb
site builder, a business manager and owner of a tea mail order business. =
Tell
us about these experiences and how they’ve helped you in the travel
world.
Jen: All of t=
he
jobs that I perform require listening to the customer’s needs and
finding the right path for them. This is just like qualifying a travel cl=
ient
- you won’t make them happy if you haven’t really ascertained
their desires and goals.
Nexion:
How do you juggle all your work effectively?
Jen: I am cur=
rently
phasing out the tea business, which I have kept running largely for
sentimental reasons. As for my other three jobs, I try to prioritize, and=
I
am a great list-maker. I LOVE crossing things off the list when I am
finished!
Nexion:
You’re involved with YourHub.com and Merchantcircle.com. Tell us mo=
re.
Jen: Both
YourHub.com and Merchantcircle.com are FREE ways to get your name out the=
re
to your local community. Similar sites are Yelp.com and Kudzu.com, and agents should check their local Web for network=
ing
sites that may be geared to their particular region or city. I try to wri=
te
one article for YourHub.com per month, and they have agreed to print those
articles in the print version of YourHub.com, which is a weekly local pap=
er
affiliated with the Stuart News. This gives me two venues, and I can also
reach those who are not Internet savvy. Not only do these sites help you =
to
get "branded" with name recognition, but they give you a chance=
to
network with other local businesses that might be mutually beneficial, su=
ch
as wedding planners, florists, etc. You can read my latest story and see a
link to other stories at: http://tc.yourhub.com/STUART/Stories/Travel/General-Tra=
vel/Story~528698.aspx.
Nexion:
You are a sportsfishing travel specialist. Ho=
w do
you stay aware of things involving this niche, such as suppliers, destina=
tions,
trends, etc.?
Jen: I watch
fishing shows, read Sportfishing Magazine, talk with the local anglers and
captains. In this difficult economy, some of the best lodges have been fo=
rced
to sell or close down, so I try to stay on top and correspond often with =
my
suppliers.
Nexion:
You also book destination weddings, cruises and corporate travel. How do =
you
mix all this with sportsfishing travel?
Jen: It’=
;s
just one-stop shopping, right? I had a destination wedding myself, 19 yea=
rs
ago; I've cruised; and I traveled extensively for business, commuting bet=
ween
Florida and Connecticut monthly for three and a half years; and I have fi=
shed
all over the world. I have some understanding of the needs of many types =
of
clients.
Nexion:
What have you learned from your experiences in the travel business?
Jen: The trav=
el
business is a tricky one. I feel like I have to be on my toes all the tim=
e. I
recently had a luxury hotel go behind my back to the client and offer a l=
ower
rate for her wedding group. They strong-armed the bride, and she panicked=
. I
went to the general manager, and he couldn't have cared less. When I was =
in
the hotel industry, I would have lost my job for undercutting an agent. T=
he
world has changed. We need to be resourceful and diligent in our continui=
ng
education to really prove our worth.
Nexion:
How do you stay passionate and motivated each and every day?
Jen: I wish I=
could
say that I am. Some days (like the day I lost a large wedding to a greedy
catering manager), I want to throw in the towe=
l. But
then a client comes back from a trip, and they are so happy- they renew my
spirit, too.
Nexion:
us about your family and hobbies and what you do for fun.
Jen: I am mar=
ried,
19 years, to Greg, whom I met in the hotel business. We were on a Nascar =
pit
crew together for eight years- that was a blast. Obviously we both love to
travel and fish! We also love food and wine, and finding the little
"local joint" that most people would overlook while traveling. =
I am
an avid reader and gardener. What I am going to do for "fun" ri=
ght
now is go and mow the lawn. It’s cheaper than a gym membership!
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![3D"You](3D"NexionNewsletter-MemberSpotlight_files/image001.jpg")
![3D"In](3D"NexionNewsletter-MemberSpotlight_files/image002.jpg")
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