Meet Melissa Downham: Luxury Travel Advisor and Planner

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

Hi Melissa, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I think my obvious care for my client’s trips. I really strive to make the whole planning process as easy as possible on them – parents and young couples are busy! I try to be with them every step of the way – no client is “just a number” to me. And the trip itself is very important to me. Some of my clients can’t get away more than once a year and I want to make that time with their children/souse/extended family as meaningful and stress-free as possible. 

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I actually started my career in hotels. Shortly after college, I worked in Vail at what used to be the Westin Vail, now a Grand Hyatt. After a move to Chicago and a brief stint in the corporate world, which definitely wasn’t my thing, I applied to photography school and embarked on a 13 year career in photography. Along the way, my husband and I had a fantastic move overseas and we traveled as much as possible. Upon returning the the United States, I started a travel blog to document our travels while overseas and the traveling we continued once settled in Denver. Hand surgeries and general burn-out ended my photography career and I found an article about my host agency, Departure Lounge, in Forbes. One phone call to Departure Lounge, located in Austin, Texas, began my foray into the travel industry – 25 years after working in the hotel industry.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would start down at Larimer Square for a great brunch at Bistro Vendome and explore that area and eat at Tag or Cholon that evening. The next day we would visit the Mint, just because I think it’s so interesting that there’s a Mint in Denver! And then walk 16th Street Mall. The following day we would hit Boulder and stay for a night at Hotel Jerome….and definitely eat at Flagstaff House and stroll Pearl Street Mall. Then it’s on to Beaver Creek and Vail for a few days, where we would stay in my favorite – Park Hyatt Beaver Creek! While there we would do hiking, eat at Mirabelle, White Bison and Mountain Standard. We would have margaritas and do lot’s of hot tubbing! For that last evening, it’s back down to Denver, where we would hang out in my backyard by the fire pit, possibly invite some neighbors over and enjoy some wine and grilled steaks. Whew, that’s an expensive week!

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?
My husband has been really supportive every step of the way. When I first started my business, I simply could not have done it without him. For the first couple of years, I wasn’t making that much and I was trying to build my client base. 100%, I could not have supported myself, much less my children on the money I was making at that time. Another person who was instrumental was Keith Waldon, the owner of my host agency. (Most travel advisors are independant contractors with host agencies, who we turn to for running our accounting and marketing materials). Keith has been in the business for well over 25 years and he knows it backwards and forwards. He’s always willing to get on a call, answer questions and give guidance.

Website: www.theroamingfamily.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/theroamingfamily
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-downham-287b7a48/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/theroamingfamily
Other: www.departurelounge.com is my host agency website

Image Credits
All mine