Today we’d like to introduce you to Beau Black.
Beau , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I left my first career as an English professor in 2019 not knowing exactly what I would do next, but pretty sure travel would be part of it. Turns out, travel is all of it. A friend connected me with someone in the industry, and I signed on as an agent with the company he worked with. Covid was a little speed bump–but even when the world was shut down, I was sold on the travel industry as the right direction for me. For decades, I’d been ‘the travel guy.’ This just made that official. I own my own agency, Beau Black Travel, and specialize in Europe, river and mid-range to luxury ocean cruises, and tropical destinations, especially Mexico. It really is thrilling to realize I’m helping my clients have the best week (or weekend, or two weeks) of their year.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Well,. Covid shut the whole world down for a year and a half in March after I opened for business in January 2020. Even in the worst days of that, I was glad to be out of my previous career, and in this one.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Beau Black Travel?
European travel, either by land or by ocean or river cruise, is the bulk of my business, although I do send a good number of clients to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Hawaii. My primary specialty is Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, where my own travels have taken me the most. I’m a Signature Select Expert® for Germany and Austria, based on my years of traveling there and expertise.
That expertise helps set me apart from the competition, showcased on my site, RediscoverEurope.com, for which I’m the sole writer and photographer. And though Europe is my main focus, I can get you anywhere in the world.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Look for networking opportunities with people with more experience than you, especially as you start in a new field. But remember, not everyone is your person–and not all advice is beneficial. Getting to know more experienced travel agents was a significant help to me–even though much of it had to be done virtually because of Covid. In a community sense, finding affinity groups in which to network, and volunteer opportunities that naturally foster new contacts, can be a big boost to a new business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rediscovereurope.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrblack3/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rediscovereurope
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-beau-black-iii/
- Other: https://www.rediscovereurope.com/what-we-do
Image Credits
All photos by me or a family member.
