Travel Consultant Tuesday: Ilyse Agi

With a world of travel experience under her belt, Philadelphia-based Synergy International Travels consultant Ilyse helps her undecided travelers find the perfect vacation experience for them.

What inspired you to become a travel consultant?
I started with Synergy International Travels twenty years ago. My friends and family weren’t at all surprised that I decided to pursue this path, in fact, my mom was a big advocate of me becoming a travel consultant. With the first couple years, I fell in love with the people, the customers, the job itself and of course, the traveling. I’ve made a ton of friendships over the years. It’s so rewarding to know that I’ve made friendships not only within the company but with so many of my customers.

Watch our full interview with Ilyse here:

Can you think of any time that you’ve visited a destination and felt truly transported to a new culture?
When I went to Barcelona – with my brother last year – I absolutely fell in love with that city. It’s a short flight which makes it an easy trip. The people there were very laid back, which made me feel so relaxed. There was so much to do there! From the food to visiting the Gothic quarter, it was the perfect city getaway. I came back saying I want to go back like, next week.

Why should someone plan their vacation with you in the age of online booking?
The advantage of using a travel consultant is that we’ll do all of the legwork for you. Whether it be a cruise or if you’re going on a Disney vacation, there is a lot of pre-planning that goes along with these types of trips. We will help you every step of the way to make sure the process is easy for you. Booking with myself or my team, you’re going to get our first-hand experience. Being a part of a global network and working here at Synergy International Travels , we have – in particular here at the Philly Travel Center – over 200 years of knowledge between the twenty travel experts working here. We can help you pick the right vacation for you. If you’re not sure exactly where to go, how long to go for, what to see, what to do, we can help.

If I were interested in booking a honeymoon with Synergy International Travels , what could I expect?
When booking your honeymoon with Synergy International Travels , we help remove the stress from the decision-making process. We specialize in any destination, whether it be Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, Tahiti, Europe, we’ll send you on your adventure wherever it is you choose.

Speaking of specialties, where in the world do you specialize in sending customers?
I’ve been to many places in the Caribbean and Mexico. We will help narrow down which islands would be best for travelers. Also based on what time of year they are traveling and what they’re traveling for, we can find the best destination. Then we look at finding the right resort to suit their needs.

What do you think people would be most surprised to learn about your role as a travel consultant?
Customers are often surprised that we don't charge a fee for our services, yet we'll always work to find them the best pricing for their trip. We can help them travel anywhere in the world! There is a misconception that travel agencies aren't in business anymore, so when customers walk into our beautiful downtown shop, they are often shocked at how big our office is. I've worked at six locations during my time with Synergy International Travels , but the Travel Center is a real showstopper!

How can travelers get in touch with you to start planning their next vacation?
For those in the Philadelphia-area, I'd love to schedule a complimentary in-person consultation at our location on Chestnut Street. Otherwise, I'm reachable via email at AgiI@Synergy travel.com.