Today we’d like to introduce you to Steve Torres.
Hi Steve, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hospitality has always been in my blood and my life. At an early age, visiting my mother at her job at a hotel started my interest in the hospitality industry. This lead me to actually move into working in hotels covering many roles from front desk, reservations and finally moving into sales where I truly found my calling.
Working my way through limited service, extended stay and luxury hotel brands gave me a well rounded sphere in both the corporate and leisure markets. My last corporate role was with Four Seasons for almost 14 years both on property and then moving into a Worldwide Sales Director role being the brand ambassador for the regions I covered.
Having been one of the “casualties” of the pandemic in 2020 due to the halt on travel actually turned out to be a blessing. Was I upset that I lost a role I had worked hard for and loved? Yes. Was I afraid of what my next step was? Yes. However the silver lining turned out to be getting “my life” back.
We got to travel cross country for a bit, got to enjoy my home life in our new home in Rockwall and even had a great opportunity to temporarily live on the Big Island of Hawaii. That’s where I realized I did not want to return to the corporate world and instead, start my own business in travel.
Upon returning to the mainland, I began interviewing select boutique sized travel agencies until making the decision to join Jetset World Travel as an IC with a former client of mine and one I very much respected. After a couple of years with them, I made the business decision to move over to Travel Experts as an affiliate under my own brand of The Traveling TORO.
My husband Mark has been very supportive of my travel agency business and has always been my cheerleader since we met 22 years ago. He’s always believed in my ability to fine, develop and manage relationships which lead us to our new joint venture we’re about to embark on.
For the last few months I’ve been studying for my Texas Real Estate License and am almost ready to take my test. Mark received his real estate license in 2023 and has been with eXp Realty since March 2024. We will be launching our real estate team with both of us utilizing our skill set we’ve enhanced over the years with my focus on the client facing and Mark on the operation to give our clients a tailored service experience.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
By no means has it been a smooth road. I never expected it to be smooth as it’s the “opportunities” that I have actually learned from.
Traveling about 70% of the time and not living with my partner was tough for 6 1/2 years. Living on the road may have seemed luxurious to the outside world however living through it I developed anxiety, felt lonely and missed the home life I craved.
The work load was tough however I was able to fine tune my relationship building skills.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Traveling TORO?
The Traveling TORO is a full service travel agency offering a tailored experiences for our clients. Travel is a choice and it’s one that I take serious therefore want to not just book a trip for my clients – I want to design experiences that are created for them.
Now that I am going to be a realtor as well, I’ll be specializing on adult focused travel. Honeymoons, friends trips, solo trips, cruises.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Stay focused on your end goal. Check in with yourself on your business plan (yes, you should have a plan that is flexible or fluid) as well as your trusted mentor(s). People around you may have their opinions of what you should do or not do – again, stick to your goals.
Don’t try and be anything you’re not. Be yourself, be transparent and respect others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://business.rockwallchamber.org/list/member/the-traveling-toro-8835
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevethetraveltor/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steve.torres.391
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetravelingtoro/
- Other: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisors/16855555/steve-torres
