Issia Lee is a dynamic millennial entrepreneur and influencer based in Atlanta, GA, who is establishing her presence as a premier leader in the travel industry. As the owner of Issia’s Traveling Co., one of the fastest growing travel agencies in the United States, Lee is solidifying a reputation as the go-to source for travelers seeking to travel luxuriously at the most affordable rates possible.
The travel influencer, is also recognized for documenting her trips and sharing them with her audience, providing tips on when and where to travel, how to get the best deals, and how to maximize their travel experiences. With thousands of customers already benefitting from her expertise, Issia Lee is emerging as a powerhouse who is showing no signs of slowing down.
What is your business all about?
Here at Issia’s Traveling Co., our specialty is luxury concierge services. We provide access to the best hotels, vacation homes, cabins, rentals, flights and excursions. We utilize our industry experience, vending knowledge, and long-standing relationships to ensure that every travel experience for our customers surpasses their expectations. Our goal is to share with our customers how they can travel according to our three core values – affordable, luxury, and memorable.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you started your company?
My company was born at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, I was ill, lying in my bed and extremely bored. I decided that I was not just going to mope around and feel sorry for myself. Instead, I took advantage of that time to adopt a new skill. So, I came across an ad promoting a course on how to start your own travel company. It was only $69, so I decided that it was worth the risk and I dove into it. That decision ended up being the best choice of my life…That small investment led to me starting my own travel agency, which has since grown into a highly successful business and has helped thousands of people across the country to enjoy amazing travel experiences at some of the best rates you can imagine.
What would you say are the top 3 skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur, and why?
- Self-discipline – You can have all the goals you want to have and you can set yourself up to achieve these goals, but if you don’t acquire self-discipline you will never get there.
- Professionalism – This is extremely important, because no matter how talented you are at what you do, if you do not have good customer service and if you do not communicate and present yourself the right way, you can turn off your customers and sabotage your business. Professionalism also shows how much you value your company and how important it is to you to establish a positive reputation.
- Marketing – It is very important to know how to promote your company and spread the word. This is how you will grow it, how people will learn about you and what your business does. The better you are at marketing, the more effective you will be at drawing attention, attracting leads and making a profit.
What are your plans for the future, how do you plan to grow this company?
First, my plan is to hire more employees so that the company can continue to manage the enormous number of requests we receive on a daily basis. Next, a major goal of mine is to launch a travel academy to teach people the ins and outs of the travel industry, the things that I have done to build a successful company, and also the things I wish I did in the beginning stages to avoid some of my early mistakes.
How have the pandemic and Lockdown affected you or your new business?
Because I started my business during the pandemic, it has not affected me – it has actually been an asset. Issia’s Traveling Co. has grown during the pandemic, so I am excited to see what takes place after the pandemic when the travel restrictions removed and COVID-19 is no longer impacting us the way it is currently.
How do you separate yourself from your competitors?
Definitely my professionalism. I take customer service very seriously and at my agency, I strive to ensure that each and every one of our customers has a great experience working with us throughout the entire process. Also, we have very flexible hours to accommodate our customers. Lastly, my marketing skills and vendor knowledge separates me from other competitors, not to mention my company beats the rates of 70-80% of the market.
What were the top three mistakes you made starting your business, and what did you learn from them?
- I did not come to the door with everything lined up. I did not have the legitimacy or the credibility for my business. No process, no CRM (Costumer Relationship Management), no website, no business phone. All in all, I was not prepared to launch my business. I just jumped out there on a leap of faith.
- I spread myself thin, because I was a one-person team. I could not manage the customer flow I was getting, so it took me too long to accept client inquiries and get back to them in a timely manner.
- We began marketing before we had the professionalism and the legitimacy in our business, so that ended up backfiring until I was able to correct it.
What I learned from these mistakes is that I had to have my business structure in place if I wanted to be successful. This would allow me to more effectively manage the incoming flow of customers, give them the customer service they deserved and also build a more positive reputation where I could be viewed and respected as a leader in my industry.
Tell us a little bit about your marketing process, what has been the most successful form of marketing for you?
Marketing is something that I have been very successful at when it comes to running my business. I always make sure to engage with my customers to garner feedback, and I learn what my target audience is looking for so that I know how to properly present my business and services to them. Part of that includes looking at things like analytics to see where my people are and what interests them most. Captivating videos are also very useful, because while you can tell your customers something, it is even better to show them…and of course going viral didn’t hurt!
What helps you stay driven and motivated to keep going in your business?
My family and the people that are inspired by me. My goal has always been to remain focused and show people that when you believe in yourself and put your mind to something, anything is possible. So, I feel that if I don’t continue what I am doing, I will be letting down the thousands of people that are following me and looking to me for inspiration.
Also, I want to impact lives and leave a legacy that can live on forever. My gift is helping people to enjoy the best, most memorable experiences of their lives.
What’s a productivity tip you swear by?
You must have a planner. I make sure to write out my daily schedule and I start with the hardest task first, and then I go all the way down the list.
Another big thing for me, is I use a green highlighter because green represents money. The more green you see, the more motivated you are throughout the course of your day.
How do you personally overcome fear?
By first understanding my purpose. My purpose is to inspire people that if they have a dream, they can accomplish it regardless of their age as long as they do the work. I try to think about the worst-case scenario and usually when I do that, I realize that it is not as scary as I thought.
If you only had $1000 dollars to start a new business, knowing everything you know now, how would you spend it?
I would get a website and take an entrepreneurship course on marketing and business development. Before I started my business, I had gotten exposed to the industry of marketing and learned how much it benefits your ability to share your message and reach customers. If you know how to put it in front of people the correct way, they will buy it.
How can readers get in touch with you?
You can visit my website issiastravel.com and follow me on Instagram @issia.lee
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