Meet Michele Friedmann | Michele Travels (Travel Agency)

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michele Friedmann and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michele, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Ever since I was young I’ve always been passionate about travel. My parents are big explorers and would take me on vacations as early as two. It wasn’t until I studied abroad in college (three times actually!) that I realized wow, I can have a great career in travel! The best decision I made in college was to take my studies overseas and see the world. I circumnavigated the world on a ship during Semester at Sea, studied in Brisbane, Australia and taught in London. These experiences helped me grow in so many ways and shape the person I am today. I started my career working in Study Abroad and helped college students study, intern and play sports overseas. I continued to travel long after college both personally and for work. Currently, I’ve stepped foot in 60 countries and 7 continents (and going!) Naturally, people started reaching out and asking questions about where they should travel to and wanting some advice and support. I then realized I needed to start my travel agency. I love being my own boss, meeting new people, chatting travel and being creative! This business fits me perfectly.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I believe what sets me apart from others is that I’ve spent the majority of my life either traveling or working/studying/interning in travel. I have 10 years of experience in the industry working various roles. I have personally visited every continent and 60 countries, and I use my travel experiences to curate the perfect getaway for clients. I’m also a part of this amazing consortium, Virtuoso, and I truly work with the best of the best. My clients get a VIP experience and often I can tack on free amenities to sweeten their vacation (think: free upgrades, spa credit, dining credit, etc). My clients receive around the clock and on the ground support which is huge, especially now. Challenges are inevitable in any business and I often remind myself to “fail forward” when something doesn’t go the way I planned. The most successful people I know are the ones that failed over and over again- and rose stronger each time. I strive to be that way!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Considering my best friend has been quarantined in NYC for a majority of this past year, I’d take her on a much-needed road trip to the mountains where we can relax and rejuvenate! A hot tub would be a must and a cute bar to drink wine and catch up. Downtown would be walking distance away where we could shop and grab dinner out. Of course we would ski at least one day! I’m thinking the W in Aspen or the Four Seasons in Vail. I love that both ski towns have a balanced mix of outdoor activities to soak in mother nature and a downtown great for shopping, dining and a fun night out! Both resorts are walking distance to town and skiing. Live music is slowly coming back- that would be an added bonus!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have a lot of people to thank for helping me get through this past year! I‘d like to give a shout out to my partners around the globe for keeping things positive and inspiring during a challenging time; my host agency the Travel Society for all their love, support and guidance; a mentor and friend that’s helped me immensely-Kari T.; my parents for their never-ending support; my friends for their support and virtual happy hours that helped keep me sane; and last but not least my partner in crime Eric for the many ski adventures, road trips and smiles this past year.

Website: www.micheletravels.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/micheletravels_/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-friedmann-a668459/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MicheleTravelsLLC