Having been a part of the travel industry for over 30 years, Denise Partridge brings extensive experience in corporate, luxury, and adventure travel. She has worked with Senators, Lawyers, and professional athletes, planning vacations that range from relaxing on the beach in Mexico to luxury safaris in Africa. Her passion lies in creating personalized itineraries that turn travel dreams into unforgettable memories. Whether it’s sipping espresso in Rome or chasing waterfalls in Bali, Denise has you covered.
What she enjoys the most about helping people plan their travels:
Creating a personal experience with unforgettable memories.
Her favorite travel tip:
Insurance…. And Nexus card/Global Entry – It’s a life saver.
The best travel advice she ever received: Patience, some things are out of our control. Slow down and enjoy your trip.
Her most memorable travel experience:
Her first Safari in Kenya, it was life changing and has led to at least 2 more.
Her personal travel style:
Organized but flexible, she likes to experience the local culture and break out of her comfort zone and try something new.
If she could go anywhere in the world right now:
Seeing and experiencing the great migration in Africa is at the top of Denise’s bucket list as well as Petra in Jordan
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
I prefer to have set hours, so I’m at my desk by 8am. I have a check list I go through to start the day. I start by reading the emails that cover Industry updates, product updates etc. Requests to https://denise-partridge.com/ are handled as they come in.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I research current and upcoming offers by tour companies I trust and then decide which ones I will promote based on my current and future clientele. Also, I have had success collaborating with those tour companies to bring those offers to clients that maybe they hadn’t considered. This often helps open up the conversation.
What’s one trend that excites you?
More often people are looking for small group and/or higher-end personalized experiences. They are not as interested in the crowds — it’s hard to have a meaningful experience when you are in a crowd of people. This is where I at get to be creative and make it a truly personal experience. It’s an opportunity to tailor something really special, with memories that will last a lifetime.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Having a set schedule and proper office set up, so no matter where you work from when you are working you are focused.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Not to doubt myself or my abilities. This is a difficult business to gain respect in, since some feel they can google everything and be a part-time travel consultant. With so many years doing this work, I know there is so much more involved in creating safe, unique, and memorable experiences for a client from start to finish.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you.
Quality over Quantity. I wouldn’t say “nobody” agrees with me, but some travel agencies feel that any business is good business. I feel the business that creates that relationship between you and your client is what keeps you and the quality service you provided top of mind for that next adventure.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Step back a bit and ensure you understand the client’s overall goal for their trip. This helps to get a better look at the big picture and will guide your recommendations accordingly.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I go for a run or a walk, since it helps me to think something through and tackle it from a different angle.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Continue to learn….New products, new opportunities, new booking platforms. Continue to learn what’s out there as it’s changing constantly.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
After the pandemic, I was headhunted and went to work for someone else. I thought the security of a salary would be a smart move after the uncertainty of how this business was going to come back. Watching someone else’s approach to this business that didn’t align with how I would do things was frustrating. Everyone approaches this business a bit differently. I learned that working as an Independent Consultant under https://denise-partridge.com/ with Escapes.ca, where I had the freedom to do that personalized service was what works best for me. I collaborate with other Independent Consultants, which has also been really helpful. We are supportive of each other and want everyone to be successful, which ultimately improves the result for all our clients.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
You are not an expert in EVERYTHING, be open to receiving feedback and asking others for help.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
More and more tour companies are introducing software that helps advisors instantly co-brand their product. They know how important the travel advisor is to their business, so giving us something to utilize and share their product while keeping our contact information front and center is huge.
What is the best $100 you recently spent?
A massage, you step away from the computer, your phone, your watch and can truly relax. We all need to disconnect from time to time.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast from which you’ve received much value?
I am a HUGE National Geographic fan; I would love to be on one of their expeditions. The stories are thought-provoking and educational, capturing moments from nature and cultures around the world.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
The Day of The Jackal (2024 version) – I love those types of shows that keep you guessing. Also, now I need to go to Spain and stay in a villa!
Key learnings:
- Travel professionals are “Professionals,” they have the tools and knowledge that a google search can’t provide.
- Be open to new ideas/destinations. There’s a big world out there to explore and many ways in which to do that.
- Disconnecting to connect.