Roberta Long-Kelleher

When a teacher asked my class to draw a picture of our future jobs, I drew an airplane. I knew I wanted to be on it but didn’t know where it would take me. I didn’t actually board a plane until I graduated high school when my aunt, a travel agent, arranged a trip to Europe for my best friend and me. As we traveled by train through the Alps from Switzerland to Italy, I was struck by the grandeur and majesty and realized that there is more to the world than I’d ever imagined.

The other thing that impressed me on that trip was how at home I felt in Italy. Both my maternal grandparents are Italian and every time I go back, I feel that I’m going home. It’s the family-centered culture and little things, like tasting the same kind of little rolls my grandmother used to bake in a wood-burning oven. Revisiting that piece of my heritage was heart-warming and I loved it.

When I was invited to join the family travel agency in New York City, I didn’t have to think twice. While there, I worked evenings getting my Bachelor of Science and MBA from NYU's Leonard N. Stern School of Business, and except for a child-rearing break, have been in the travel industry ever since.

To me, travel is the best education. No matter what your age or where you go, you learn about people, yourself and other cultures and have the chance to grow in so many ways. Whether it’s a conversation on a train or something you see in a museum or in nature, traveling opens the door to deeper understanding and perspective. 

I love to fulfill people’s dreams and expand their horizons, whether it’s seeing something they’ve never seen before or following their passions around the world. One couple I work with love ballroom dancing; I have arranged entrée for them into some of the world’s most important annual balls in cities including Vienna, Budapest and St. Petersburg. These traditional balls fulfilled my clients' dreams as they dressed in a ball gown and tuxedo tails and danced the waltz throughout the evening.

I recently planned a trip for an adventure-loving couple to New Zealand and Australia. They went bungee jumping, kayaking, heli-hiking, mountain biking and more. They got the idea that it would be magical to sail under Sydney’s Harbour Bridge on New Year’s Eve. It sounds lovely and I’ve arranged it! 

Being able to make things like that happen requires a wealth of knowledge and trusted contacts. I have been in the travel industry for over 25 years and have traveled extensively in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Kenya, the Caribbean, Mexico, and the United States. I’ve extended my travels to South America and to many amazing places in Asia, Africa, and the South Pacific. Everywhere I go, I build close relationships with my counterparts. 

Providing a high level of service also requires one to be detail-oriented and organized. When I plan a trip, I provide every traveler with the same care I would give my own family. I check and double-check to ensure everything is perfect. I provide physical and/or e-documents, whichever you prefer and love to send along maps and brochures. Plus, when you book with me, you have someone to call on, whether you need something sorted out or just forgot what’s next on your itinerary.

Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, wherever you go you can be assured of VIP treatment, thanks to my association with Protravel International and my personal connections with hoteliers around the world. My clients are often amazed to have a general manager personally greet them. Recently, a client left her sweater behind and the manager had it delivered that day to the next hotel on her route!

• Being a travel advisor is fun because I’m always learning and discovering something new. I love the quote, "The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page." If you’re ready to turn a new page and experience the best that the world has to offer, I’m here to smooth the way! Let's read many more books together!

Read my vow-renewal advice here: https://www.travelagentcentral.com/running-your-business/how-to-sell-vow-renewals