Open Jaw :: Up Front ::

with Bonnie Shewfelt, CTM, President Advantage Hanover Travel in Hanover, Ontario (or as she puts it: “The best travel agency around!”)

How long have you been in the business? 33 years. I started at 17 at my parents’ agency. I’m still stamping brochures – but doing a lot more exciting things as well.

Where was your first airplane ride? To Florida. But long before that I went along on my dad’s escorted coach tours, from about the age of 4.

Nowadays agents grumble about internet shoppers…what do you remember complaining about in 1975? Handwriting tickets - it would take forever. A group? What a nightmare!

Do you have a specialty? Cruises. But I’m also known here for being an expert on shopping – if clients want to know where the deals are, the agents ask me.

What was your biggest individual sale? A round the world trip for my neighbours – about $50,000.

Do you have any time management strategies? I read the travel trade publications and online magazines such as Open Jaw – I read every article and they are invaluable!

How do you cope with jet lag? I’m able to sleep in any vehicle. I crawl aboard and sleep.

What do you do to keep your clients loyal? Follow up on their return - and I learn a lot from them.

How would your clients describe you? Energetic, a perfectionist. And I’m a brochure hound! I’m always picking up brochures wherever I travel.

If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing? There’s not a day that goes by that I can’t imagine doing anything else.

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