Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
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Bonnie Philbrick

Palm Coast,FL

Summary

Seasoned world traveler since the age of 5, with residences in Ethiopia (4 years), Taipei (3 years), and Balboa (2 years). Resided in Cascade, Fort Monmouth, Boscawen, Euless, and Palm Coast in the U.S. Celebrating 41 years of marriage this December; blessed with an adult child who is the joy of our lives. Deep-rooted passion for Africa evident through sponsorship at the East African Mission Orphanage and support for organizations like the African Wildlife Foundation and Huru International.

Overview

15
15
years of professional experience

Work History

Classic Collection Safari Specialist

Micato Safaris
10.2019 - 06.2025
  • Responsibilities at Micato Safaris:
  • January through June, 2025: Web and Inbound Telephone Inquiries from prospective guests and Travel Advisors. As first point of contact, it was important to be professional, friendly, courteous, and attentive to the conversation to determine if a Classic pre-designed small-group, or a Custom designed safari, would fit the prospects needs, desires, and expectations envisioned for their safari.
  • Clientele for these journeys are highly educated with large disposable incomes and are keen on luxury experiences.
  • Once this was determined, I would continue engagement through emails highlighting the discussion answer any additional questions or address concerns; then assign to Safari Specialist for completing the booking process.
  • October 2019 through January 2025 held position of Classic Safari Specialist. Training began in October 2019 until April 2020, when layoffs occurred due to COVID. (Of note: I survived first round of layoffs in February 2020.) I approached Micato in June 2020 and offered to Intern in order to keep my knowledge of systems, countries, properties, operations, etc., up-to-date. Proud that I was instrumental in ‘saving’ many bookings during this time.
  • I interned from July 2020 until June 2021. I was re-hired and due to start in July 2021, an accident resulting in neck surgery, delayed my re-start until December 2021. I was scheduled to return full-time, however, asked Micato would consider allowing me to work part-time (3-days a week); which was accommodated.
  • Business quickly picked up once travel opened again in Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa late Summer of 2021 and I was able to meet and surpass the expected monthly company goal for net sales.

Travel Advisor, Independent Contractor

Avoya Travel, dba Make A Difference Safaris!, LLC
12.2009 - 09.2019
  • Company Overview: Independent Affiliate of Avoya Travel, dba Make A Difference Safaris!, LLC (established in 2015); previous dba The Travel Boutique, LLC (established 2012).
  • Avoya Travel statistic that I am very proud of - Customer Retention: Last 5 Years: 100 Customers with a Repeat Rate of 39% and a Net Promoter Score (last 60 days) of 100. (Net Promoter Score is a highly regarded measure of customer satisfaction and loyalty based on a single question – “How likely is it that you’ll recommend this product or company to a friend or colleague?” Promoter (9-10) – Loyal, enthusiastic evangelists, they promote you and your Independent Agency. Your best customers who are most likely to refer others.) Of Note: this score is ONLY for Avoya Travel clientele, not my personal clients.
  • 2015 I made the decision to change my ‘niche’ to Africa and began the effort to build my brand: website= www.madasafaris.com; and actively marketing on social media FB; LI; IG; TW; as well as posting a weekly Blog and monthly eNewsletter – Field Notes. At this point I stopped taking leads from Avoya Travel and only accepted new reservations from my existing clientele.
  • Developed customized travel itineraries based on client preferences and budgets.
  • Provided expert advice on destinations, accommodations, and activities to enhance customer experience.
  • Managed bookings and reservations using industry-specific software for efficiency and accuracy.
  • Conducted thorough research on destinations and accommodations to provide accurate information to travelers.
  • Researched cruises, airfare options and siteseeing options to best meet client expectations.
  • Educated clients on necessary travel documents, insurance options, and safety precautions for each destination.
  • Provided travel brochures and publications to build relationships, drive more traffic and bookings and showcase expertise.
  • Conducted post-travel follow-ups with clients to gather feedback on their experiences and identify areas of improvement.
  • Developed strong relationships with clients, leading to repeat business and referrals.
  • Maintained detailed records of client interactions, bookings, and payments for easy reference.
  • Stayed current on industry trends and news, allowing for quick adaptation to changes in the market.

Education

Some College (No Degree) - Accounting

Franklin Pierce College
Concord, NH

Some College (No Degree) - Business Administration

NH Technical Institute
Concord, NH

Some College (No Degree) - Travel And Tourism

Travel Education Center
Nashua, NH

Skills

  • Empathetic approach
  • Flexible problem solver
  • Client-oriented approach
  • Attention to detail
  • Strong ethical standards
  • Collaborative team member

Timeline

Classic Collection Safari Specialist

Micato Safaris
10.2019 - 06.2025

Travel Advisor, Independent Contractor

Avoya Travel, dba Make A Difference Safaris!, LLC
12.2009 - 09.2019

Some College (No Degree) - Accounting

Franklin Pierce College

Some College (No Degree) - Business Administration

NH Technical Institute

Some College (No Degree) - Travel And Tourism

Travel Education Center

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Bonnie Philbrick