Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Votaw.
Hi Taylor, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Travel has always been a deep passion of mine! I was the “go-to” person for travel tips and recommendations with friends and family before I turned it into a business. My business is two parts really – local concierge services and comprehensive travel planning. My vision for concierge services started while managing a local vacation rental business.
Offering services to guests such as welcome baskets, grocery deliveries, private chefs, local activity recommendations, and more, I knew there was a need for this on a larger scale! My career with travel specifically blossomed last year when I got married to the love of my life in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico!
Planning every travel aspect of a week-long celebration for 90+ guests, although stressful, really kickstarted my career and replenished my love for travel.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting a business has not been a smooth road! I have had to juggle a full-time job while also focusing on kickstarting a full-time career in travel. Not to mention, my husband is a commercial beekeeper, so I also stay busy assisting in making honey and taking care of the bees.
Fortunately, I have an incredible agency I work through called FORA, which encourages and teaches travel entrepreneurs like myself to dive into travel as a business. Organization, confidence, and passion are key!
As you know, we’re big fans of West & Co. Travel. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
West & Co. is a woman-owned travel business specializing in creating the vacations of your dreams! We are masters of our craft in boutique and luxury hotels, specialty honeymoons, curated experiences, and knowing the best-hidden gems in destinations around the world. We value highly collaborative travel planning efforts and working with the best partners in the industry.
What sets us apart from others is the level of personalized services and destination expertise we can offer each travel client. We truly value our client relationships and wake up every day excited to work with each one of them!
Although luxury travel is a very lucrative market for travel advisors, and an exciting avenue for our business, this is not why we love what we do. It’s the family-run boutique hotels, the “hole-in-the-wall” local favorites, the hidden beaches, supporting local business owners in each destination and treating every single one of our clients the same, regardless of their travel style and financial status.
What many people don’t know is that some of our services are free of charge! If you’re booking a hotel or villa, send us a message and we can assist in booking the best available rate. At certain partner hotels, we can offer deals, discounts, and exclusive perks, just for booking with us! Some perks we can offer include hotel upgrades, resort credits, complimentary breakfast, free nights, flexible check-in/out, and more. A few of our favorite luxury and boutique partner hotels in Utah, where we move sending clients, include Montage Deer Valley, St. Regis, Yonder Escalante, Amangiri, Sundance Mountain Resort, and The Lodge at Blue Sky.
The entrepreneurs and young business owners that I have met along the way, in my business journey, have inspired me in unimaginable ways! I am fascinated by the collaborative world that we currently live in and think it is so important to continue learning from one another and building each other up.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Oh, have I! As a travel advisor, my business was non-existent during Covid, for obvious reasons. I learned to adapt and got creative with my concierge services for locals and travelers alike. Luckily, “post-Covid”, the travel industry is as busy as it ever has been! And for that I am grateful.
My tips for “post-Covid” traveling would be to, of course, use a travel advisor to assist in booking your trip and PLAN AHEAD! Flights, hotels, restaurants, and more are getting booked up extremely far in advance. If you are planning a trip in 2023 or even 2024, I would highly recommend talking with us, or a trusted travel advisor as soon as possible!
Pricing:
- Hotel Bookings & Recommendations – Free of Charge
- Local Destination Research & Recommendations – $150+
- Full-Service Trip Planning – $350+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.foratravel.com/advisor/taylor-alexandra-votaw
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travelwestandco/
Image Credits
Kelsey Soos and Taylor Votaw – West & Co. Travel
