Check Out Marissa Shonk’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marissa Shonk. 

Hi Marissa, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I opened True To You Travel Co. in November 2019, just a few months before the world shut down due to Covid. Prior to venturing out on my own, I was part of a host agency that was only focused on Disney destinations. While I would still consider that to be one of my specialties, the Lord in his kindness took what should’ve been the end of my journey as a travel agent in 2020, and instead allowed me to dive deep into further classifications and trainings in order to now also specialize in the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, and cruising. I am constantly continuing my education through multiple sources in order to be the best resource for every one of my clients. I put a large emphasis on helping my clients feel confident and comfortable with their travel plans so that they can focus on making memories and spending quality time with their loved ones rather than all of the small details that come along with traveling or even larger details related to their trip that seem to be ever-changing in the post-Covid world. Every trip is truly important to me and I honestly feel so blessed to be a part of all of the memories being made. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Every day is definitely an opportunity for growth and for learning. True To You Travel Co is made up of me, myself and I so of course finding balance can be tricky when managing A company along with a family of six (My amazing husband and I have four kiddos ages 1 to 8 plus 2 dogs). So, while I wouldn’t exactly call it a Smooth Road, I am constantly overwhelmed with the blessings of each and every client and opportunity that has come my way over the past few years. Of course, Covid also threw a large wrench into the works. No one saw that coming, especially this travel agent who just ventured out on her own prior to the shutdown, but it was a blessing in disguise because it allowed me to expand my knowledge and expertise in the areas that I honestly didn’t plan to explore for several years. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As I mentioned, I specialize in Disney Destinations, (along with Universal Park and Resort Vacations) The Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, and a few select cruise lines. I focus on conversations to understand each client’s preferences regarding their trip, their family and their budget and from there we will find the best fitting destination and packages to meet their needs. I try my best to guide each client along the planning process and help them by setting up proper expectations for their experience, rather than just taking a travel order or serving as a booking engine like hotels.com or Expedia. The Best part is that in the majority of my trips, there are no fees paid to me by the client so there is literally no downside to us working together. 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I try to share helpful travel tips and destination information on my social media pages so even if you aren’t traveling right now, I love to see new followers and get to know people through the platforms. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.truetoyoutravelco.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/truetoyoutravelco
• Facebook: Facebook.com/TrueToYouTravelCo

Image Credits
Disney Photo Pass Photographers
Mike Shonk