Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Affiliations
Certification
Additional Information
Timeline
Generic
Lindsay Larrabee Heabel, CTA

Lindsay Larrabee Heabel, CTA

Cedar Rapids,Iowa

Summary

Resourceful Travel Consultant with 31 years of industry experience, passionate about providing dream experiences in domestic and global destinations. Strong research background and love of all things travel. Extensive career in hospitality working with clients pursuing unique vacation journeys. Terrific communicator with base of VIP and wealthy, loyal clientele. Consistently deliver best client experiences resulting in repeat business and market expansion.

Overview

29
29
years of professional experience
8
8

Travel Industry Certifications

Work History

Luxury Sales Consultant /Owner/Operator

Platinum Vacation Specialists
Cedar Rapids, IA
01.1999 - 06.2020
  • Oversaw end-to-end business processes to maintain proficiency and profitability.
  • Extensive knowledge in using travel-related systems such as GDS, CRM, vendor, and supplier websites, and booking engines.
  • Continued industry education, learned new skills and applied them to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity.
  • Arranged complex itineraries to worldwide destinations for luxury and VIP clients, including First Class Air,Rail, Private Tours / car services, Hotels, Resorts, Cruises, Villa Leases, and Travel Guard Insurance. 90% purchase insurance.
  • Provided exemplary customer service to new and existing clients, which helped build lasting relationships and secure new travel assignments.
  • Performed effectively in self-directed work environment, managing day-to-day operations and decisions
  • Monitored service after sale and implemented quick and effective problem resolutions
  • Met existing customers to review current services and expand sales opportunities
  • Built relationships with customers and community to promote long term business growth
  • Gained customer trust and confidence by demonstrating compelling, persuasive and composed professional demeanor

Travel Entrepreneur Coach

Travel Biz Coaching
06.2012 - 09.2020
  • Educated and mentored Professional Travel Consultants how to create systems in their business which elevate income by learning art of effective consultations to establish and maintain relationship with clients, reap rewards of exhilarated returning clients, and receive endless referrals,
  • Maximizes profits while providing clients with customized quality experience, have time to experience travel themselves (FAMS or Family Trips), and love feeling valued while operating their travel business
  • Created individualized curricula, instructions, documents and written tests for various types of training courses, teaching foundational tools which make for successful career.
  • Private and small group coaching generated over one million in sale between 2015 and 2016.
  • Worked flexible hours across night, weekends to assist clients.

Independent Travel Consultant

Here Today Gone To Maui Travel Services
01.1999 - 01.2013
  • Owned and operated Here Today Gone To Maui Travel Services as home-based Independent Contractor.
  • Change in business name and business model following Entrepreneurship programs in 2012.
  • Operated full time while implementing skills acquired from prior travel agency employment and experience working in marketing at luxury hotel and resort development company.
  • SABRE and Clientbase for Windows
  • Arranged travel accommodations and transportation for large groups, couples, executives, families, and special needs clients.
  • Utilized Host Credentials via ICT and Nexion.
  • Obtained credentials via CLIA, IATAN, OSSN, and pseudo IATA numbers to create agency accounts for direct relationships with suppliers.
  • Provided exemplary customer service to new and existing clients, which helped build lasting relationships and secure new travel assignments.
  • Responded to clients' questions, issues and complaints and implemented appropriate solutions.
  • Developed loyal clientele base due to excellent listening and research skills and keen understanding of travel budgets.
  • 50% Leisure, FIT's, 25% Groups, 25%Corporate

Member and Chapter Vice President

BNI Louisiana
01.2006 - 01.2012
  • Successful Solutions Chapter of Business Networking International: One year member, One year secretary, Four years Vice President.
  • Led recruitment and development of strategic alliances to maximize utilization of existing talent and capabilities.
  • Furthered brand awareness through mandatory scheduled weekly meetings, inviting other chapters and non-member guests to educate with speaking presentations by chapter member businesses.
  • Members and Guests gave elevator speeches on their business, asked for business, and exchanged qualified referrals via a proprietary system.
  • Attended regional training events with chapter members on "Giver's Gain" and conducting "One to One" appointments that concentrate on learning about another's business for cross promotion and strategic marketing.
  • BNI Successful Solutions Chapter members earned a combined 750,000 in revenue via referral system 2007-2009
  • Close rate on BNI referrals were 90%. Majority of referrals for Travel Agency originate from BNI.

Marketing Representative

Lodge Of Four Seasons
06.1996 - 05.2000
  • Marketing representative for Resort Development and Real Estate Sales at Four Seasons Lakesites, owned by 'The Lodge of Four Seasons Hotel', its parent company, purchased built, and developed by Harold Koplar of KPLR in St. Louis, and MLB Hall of Famers Stan Musial, and Joe Garagiola, Sr..
  • Land and Resort Development portion of Luxury Resort folded is now Keller Williams Four Seasons Realty.
  • Partnered with co-manager of Owner Services, for current home, condominium, land, and vacation condo owners at resort year-round, promoting signature golf courses, racquet club, fine dining, marina, and other amenities and activities.
  • Hosted weekly receptions, gave tours of 'Lake of the Ozarks' shore of 3500 acres on 65' yacht providing history to owners and guests of resort, while promoting newer developments.
  • Operated Hospitality Desk inside main lobby of The Lodge of Four Seasons Hotel.
  • Managed promotion and marketing of Porto Cima and newly designed Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course on Shawnee Bend's newest and final phase of Four Seasons, Exclusive, luxury real estate, homesites, and boutique hotel, includes newly built toll bridge connecting two sides of lake, public private partnership.
  • Traveled each winter from January through April to premier Boating, Golf, Sports, and Home Shows to promote developments amenities, and AAA Four Diamond Lodge of Four Seasons Luxury Hotel and Spa.
  • Applied transferrable skills from travel industry and applied knowledge working inside of resort to ownership of travel agency and career as travel agent.

Corporate Travel Consultant

AJA Travel And Tour
01.1993 - 05.1996
  • Provided International and Domestic reservations for busy downtown Denver travel agency specializing in VIP clientele of luxury travelers including Denver Broncos, media, Soap Opera actors, comedians, A-List Celebrities in film and television industry, and professional music industry
  • System 1 GDS / Amadeus
  • Domestic and International airline reservations, ticketing, exchanges, and upgrades.
  • Specialized in consolidator rates for first, business, and economy reservations.
  • Researched air consolidators to ensure clients received lowest negotiated rates with limited restrictions and ability to upgrade when applicable.
  • Advised clients of rules, regulations, exchange fees, cancellation fees., advantages of travel insurance, passport and visa requirements, timelines, and executing last-minute emergency documentation.
  • Utilized problem-solving skills to troubleshoot complicated travel itineraries, changes, and cancellations
  • Provided customers with best deals and well-researched travel options, successfully negotiating rates while improving customer satisfaction ratings
  • Followed up with customers to increase customer service with travel plans
  • Trained directly by owners of agency who previously worked for over ten years at Continental Airlines, in reservations and ticketing
  • Introduced to Airline and Hotel Sales Representatives. Mentored by owners to developing and maintain vendor and supplier relationships, and how to negotiate rates, commissions, and contracts.
  • Developed and maintained relationships with air, hotel, rail, tour operators, and cruise line representatives, utilized when opening agency in 1999.

Travel Consultant

THOR24
01.1992 - 12.1993
  • 24x7 After-Hours and emergency travel service provider for over 2,000 travel agencies nationwide.
  • Processed incoming calls from travel agency clients requiring changes to existing domestic or international reservations or to book new reservations after hours of member agency or during travel. Consulted clients on efficient routes, lowest available airfares, and travel products/services.
  • Exceeded customer service satisfaction standards by understanding and anticipating clients' expectations.
  • Spoke with clients from different backgrounds and levels within organization diplomatically, with tact, and empathy.
  • Operated five GDS systems Apollo, Sabre, DATA II and PARS, now Worldspan, and Amadeus, formerly System 1. Completed GDS training in 2 weeks.. Applied critical thinking and language skills to learn, read, and write foreign languages quickly to learning multiple GDSs’.
  • Advised clients on visa, passport and security requirements relating to destinations and confirmed flight details for each reservation.
  • Worked under pressure and effectively multi-tasked while maintaining professional rapport with clients.
  • Ensured optimum in customer service through effective use of GDS, computer programs, and positive telephone techniques.
  • Maintained working knowledge of airline practices, programs, and operations.
  • Possessed working knowledge of vendor loyalty programs, security requirements, documentary requirements, and destination geography.
  • Solved travel-related problems, worked independently, offered exemplary customer service skills, and followed all Thor24, member agency, and supplier policies and procedures, including importance providing detailed documentation of calls and actions with clients.
  • Worked in a collaborative effort for Elite Member agency, Diplomat Travel, to make travel arrangements for 1992 Bush Quayle Presidential Campaign.
  • Provided specialized service for VIP clients, including A-List celebrities, and members of Film, TV, and Music Industries.
  • Aided team members with research and resolution of service issues.
  • Shared innovative resolutions with team and company to improve efficiency, time management, ease of process, and which benefits company, member agency, satisfaction of client, and financial growth of Thor24.

International Travel Agent

Narayan's Gateway Travel And Tour
08.1991 - 01.1992
  • Agent for travel agency and tour operator based in both United States and Nepal. Owner from Nepal, Designed trekking vacations to Nepal / Himalayas.
  • Specialization in International travel including airfare.
  • GDS Worldspan
  • Responsible for weekly ARC reporting.
  • Learned international airfare structures and contracts with international carriers, including Thai Airways.
  • Managed office when owner was in Asia and India.
  • Responded to clients' questions, issues, and complaints and found appropriate solutions when needed.
  • Arranged travel accommodations for groups and individuals
  • Provided exemplary customer service to new and existing clients, which helped build lasting relationships and secure new travel plans.
  • Responded to clients' questions, issues and complaints and implemented appropriate solutions.

Education

Certification, Tourism and Travel Services Management - Tourism And Travel Management

Travel Trade School of Boulder
Boulder, CO
08.1991

Bachelor of Arts - Liberal Studies

University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
1991

Secondary College Preparatory - Advanced High School/Secondary Diploma Program

Lake Forest Academy-Ferry Hall
Lake Forest, IL
05.1987

Skills

  • Client Relationship Management and Marketing
  • Persuasive Negotiations
  • Team Goals
  • Client and Business Networking
  • High-Volume Environments
  • GDS (Sabre, Apollo, Worldspan, Amadeus)
  • Sensitive Information Handling
  • Global Destinations
  • Customer Inquiry and Response Systems
  • VIP Travel Arrangements
  • Travel Bookings Processes
  • Air, Rail, Hotel, Cruise, Tour, Vacation Package and Insurance

Affiliations

  • The Travel Institute
  • Lake Forest Academy-Ferry Hall Alumni Association Class of 1987
  • University of Iowa Alumni Network
  • Trave; Leaders Network
  • NEST
  • BNI
  • MBECA

Certification

  • CTA - Certified Travel Associate
  • Verified Travel Consultant, Airline Reporting Corporation - 2010-2020
  • IATAN, IATA - 1992 - Present
  • Licensed Travel Insurance Sales - 2009-Present
  • Iowa Seller of Travel License - 2012-2020
  • Certified Sandals Specialist, Sandals Resorts - 2009-2020
  • Certified Marriott Specialist, Marriott Hotels - 2004-2020
  • American Express APEX Training, Travel Leaders Network and American Express - 2018-2020

Additional Information

  • 2010, Louisiana Entrepreneur of the Year. Wrote 'Award Winning Business Plan' and earned grant to grow existing travel business.
  • 2009 Accepted into entrepreneurship program for women in Baton Rouge. Micro Business Enterprise Corporation of Ascension (MBECA) is an entrepreneurship development center that offers programs to individuals interested in starting a business, improving an existing business, or gaining management training to improve their marketability. Funded by Louisiana Department of Economic Development.

Timeline

Travel Entrepreneur Coach

Travel Biz Coaching
06.2012 - 09.2020

Member and Chapter Vice President

BNI Louisiana
01.2006 - 01.2012

Independent Travel Consultant

Here Today Gone To Maui Travel Services
01.1999 - 01.2013

Luxury Sales Consultant /Owner/Operator

Platinum Vacation Specialists
01.1999 - 06.2020

Marketing Representative

Lodge Of Four Seasons
06.1996 - 05.2000

Corporate Travel Consultant

AJA Travel And Tour
01.1993 - 05.1996

Travel Consultant

THOR24
01.1992 - 12.1993

International Travel Agent

Narayan's Gateway Travel And Tour
08.1991 - 01.1992

Certification, Tourism and Travel Services Management - Tourism And Travel Management

Travel Trade School of Boulder

Bachelor of Arts - Liberal Studies

University of Iowa

Secondary College Preparatory - Advanced High School/Secondary Diploma Program

Lake Forest Academy-Ferry Hall

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
Lindsay Larrabee Heabel, CTA