When I received an email letting me know I had been featured in PAX News' Monday Minute, Canada's leading travel industry publication, I felt both honoured and humbled. 

You can read the full article here: PAX News link. 

As I reflected on the recognition, I realized it wasn't really about me. It was about something my clients rarely see—the work that happens behind the scenes long before they pack their suitcase. 

When I launched TravelOnly with Danny in April 2023 after spending 35 years at IBM, I made myself a promise. If I were going to recommend a destination, cruise line or resort, I wanted those recommendations to be based on knowledge, experience and trusted industry relationships—not simply on a brochure or website. 

That commitment continues today. 

Many people assume travel advisors receive free vacations or travel the world at someone else's expense. While suppliers occasionally offer preferred industry rates for educational programs, the reality is quite different. I invest my own time and money every year to continue learning so I can better serve my clients. 

That investment takes many forms. 

It means travelling on familiarization (FAM) trips where the days begin early and are packed with ship inspections, hotel tours, destination briefings and meetings with local partners. These aren't leisurely holidays—they're working trips designed to help advisors better understand the products we recommend. 

It means attending conferences, participating in supplier webinars, and continually learning about new destinations, cruise ships, travel trends and industry changes. 

It also means earning specialist certifications with many of the world's leading travel companies, including Oceania Cruises, Viking, Windstar Cruises, AmaWaterways, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Scenic & Emerald Cruises and many others. Every certification adds another layer of knowledge that helps me match clients with experiences that truly fit their interests and travel style. 

Perhaps even more valuable are the relationships built along the way. 

Over the past three years, I've had the opportunity to meet Business Development Managers, destination specialists, cruise line representatives and travel professionals from around the world. Those relationships often become invaluable when a client needs advice, has a special request or encounters an unexpected travel challenge. Knowing who to call can make all the difference. 

Another milestone I'm grateful to share is that, together with my clients, we have now surpassed $1 million in cumulative travel bookings since I launched my business. 

That number isn't about sales. It's about trust. 

Every booking represents someone who chose to place their vacation—and often their hard-earned vacation dollars and vacation time—in my hands. Whether it's a luxury cruise, a custom European itinerary, an all-inclusive resort, a weekend hotel stay, airline tickets to visit family or travel insurance, I approach every booking with the same care and attention. 

I've always believed that my job isn't simply to sell travel. 

It's to help people travel with confidence. 

Sometimes that means planning a once-in-a-lifetime expedition cruise. 

Sometimes it means finding the right hotel for a weekend getaway. 

Sometimes it means helping a family navigate airline schedules or choosing the right travel insurance. 

No booking is "too small" if it's important to my client. 

Relationships are built one trip at a time, and I'm honoured every time someone chooses to trust me with theirs. 

To everyone who has booked with me, referred family and friends, shared my name with a colleague or simply followed along on this journey—thank you. 

The recognition from PAX News was certainly meaningful. 

But the recognition that matters most is the confidence you've placed in me over the past three years. 

That trust is something I'll never take for granted.

I look forward to continuing to learn, grow and help you discover incredible places around the world. 

Thank you for being part of the journey.

Based in Newmarket, Ontario, I work with clients across York Region, the Greater Toronto Area, throughout Canada and in the USA, helping travellers plan everything from ocean and river cruises, simple hotel stays and airfare to luxury cruises and custom international itineraries.