Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Lewis.
Dana, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In 2013, I boarded my first ever flight bound for New York City with my mom. I had never flown. My mom had never flown. And I was terrified. But, somehow, my globetrotting husband put me at ease beforehand. As soon as I set foot in Manhattan, my life changed forever. Though it would be a couple of years later, New York is where my journey as a travel planner began. Travel gave me purpose and passion and opened my eyes to the world in more ways than I can count.
In 2015, after family and friends planted a seed in my heart, I jumped all in and became a travel planner. What started out as a dream and side hustle has morphed into an incredible business that I am so proud of and still cannot wrap my mind around!
My biggest passion is working with couples for their honeymoons and destination weddings. Being apart of such an important time in their lives is such a joy, and I’m so grateful they put their trust in me. It brings me so much happiness to watch them grow and, eventually, help them in planning their family vacations.
Great, 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?
Starting out in business was very confusing. There are so many ins and outs to the industry that folks don’t quite understand at first but with proper research, continuous training, and adjusting the sails, if you will, here and there, I have found my footing and grown deep roots within the industry and for my clients.
Of course, 2020 has not been easy. This year, I have essentially been a travel canceler, travel rescheduler, and refund chaser. But I feel very blessed that my clients trusted me with their times, money, and vacations because it has given me so much purpose during this time to be there for them. I’m looking forward to a banner 2021 because I know that travel will be in our sights again!
We’d love to hear more about Discovereighng with Dana Travel & Destination Weddings.
Discovereighng with Dana Travel is a boutique agency that helps couples create unforgettable destination weddings, honeymoons, and beyond so they can devote their time to what matters most—each other. As a travel designer or planner, if you will, through a collaboration, including myself and the client, I bring dream vacation visions to life. Though my expertise is broad, I specialize in honeymoons and destination weddings in the Caribbean. Through online technology, I provide detailed planning for honeymoons and destination weddings, including timelines, checklists, and even itineraries right from a phone.
I am so proud of the relationships that I get to form throughout the trip planning process. In particular, with destination weddings, I am able to get to know entire families—couples, their parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, the whole-nine-yards! I don’t know of many other businesses that can say that. It is incredibly special. Of the clients I’ve been privileged to work with, they would say you will get someone who is like a friend to help in planning such a special occasion. Someone who is honest and kind, willing to go the extra mile, and who makes you feel like part of the team because after all the whole process is no doubt a collaboration!
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
There are so many moments that come to mind. Personally, I feel like this career has brought me into my own, given me something to be proud of that I have built from the bottom up, and that I get to call my very own. Having people recognize that makes me incredibly grateful that I took this leap.
But working with clients is truly what drives me. From tracking down lost luggage and having it delivered to the resort or reworking flights at 2 am when something gets canceled, well, believe it or not, that makes me proud. Because it frees up my clients from worrying, instead, they simply get to enjoy the process. And for every hiccup, there are hundreds of smooth rides. I feel so much joy seeing clients share their honeymoon memories, and best of all, their “I dos” on a beautiful beach! Getting to be apart of those dreams-come-true makes me incredibly proud!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.danallewis.com
- Phone: 254-744-4305
- Email: travel@danallewis.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discovereighngwithdanatravel/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovereighngwithdana/
- Other: https://pinterest.com/danaleighlewis
Image Credit:
Alex Wolf Photography (headshots)
Color Du Jour Photography (bride)
Maui Wedding Adventures (couple)
Suggest a story: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
