Today we’d like to introduce you to Stefany Di Manno Ceccato.
Hi Stefany , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was in CA at the time working as a Corporate Flight Attendant full time and I knew I didn’t want to be a full time flight attendant forever. I wanted to stay connected to travel and also help create “Bucket List” trips for others as I have been fortunate to have had many of mine realized over the years being in this industry. I also wanted there to be a travel with intention theme. I wanted to give back to help make this world a better place having my own company. I give 5% of DMC Travel Tailor’s profit to Talitha Kum, an orphange in Kenya that helps children with HIV.
I started by researching luxury travel and Virtuoso came up. After calling Virtuoso, learning I needed to be affiliated with a host agency to be Virtuoso, speaking to 3 Virtuoso host agencies, Largay Travel felt like the right fit. I did my mentorship with them while living in CA. I resigned from my Corporate Flight Attendant position to give the travel company my all. Shortly after, we moved to Charleston, SC and that is when I started to work on the travel company and my business full time.
I started by helping friends and family. The business took years to grow with referrals and also by finding clients by doing presentations with partners and or through social media.
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?
I learned the hard way that a successful group trip doesn’t always guarantee a long-term partnership. After pouring a year’s worth of energy into one host who eventually moved on, I faced a significant revenue gap. That experience was a pivotal turning point; it taught me the importance of diversifying my portfolio and ensuring my business growth wasn’t dependent on a single channel. The silver lining is, many of the clients who went on that group trip with the host are some of my top clients today.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
My Why
I believe in living life to the fullest.
I believe travel is the gateway to self-transformation that touches your soul, connects and unites you with different cultures, fills your life with passion, realizes your fairytale dreams and gives you a story to tell!
What I Do
I create custom-tailored trips for individuals (and or groups) and are able to offer my clients exclusive perks and benefits they can’t find themselves through our Virtuoso affiliation. Rather than a travel agent, I call myself a Dream Travel Designer! I traveled the world as a Corporate Flight Attendant for fifteen years, flying CEO’s and celebrities, so I am very in tune with taking superior care of my clients. I want clients for life. I will draw from my experience of having been to 59 countries, 41 islands and counting and my access to our global partners around the world to make sure they have a trip of a lifetime. I specialize in Africa, Australia, British Virgin Islands, Italy (dad is from Rome, mom is from Cassino and husband outside of Venice), New Zealand, New York City, California and Charleston, although I do book travel anywhere around the globe. I can book private jet charters. I also contribute 5% of DMC Travel Tailor’s profit to Talitha Kum (helping orphaned children in Kenya with HIV) to help make this world a better place.
Forbes Travel Guide Endorsed Agency
Largay Travel has been named a Forbes Travel Guide endorsed agency. As an agency affiliated with Largay Travel, I take great pride in working and collaborating with the best travel suppliers in the world to curate personalized and unforgettable journeys for you. It is such a joy to witness my clients’ travel dreams become cherished memories, and I am humbled to have these efforts acknowledged on such a global platform.
I am most proud of the extensive travel knowledge I bring to the table and that I give back. Clients can feel good knowing that a portion of each trip is going towards a great cause! Readers should know that it is always beneficial to book with a travel advisor as our relationships with our partners not only can bring amenities, but can help with any undesirable situations that may arise where the clients outcome would not be the same if it were not for my relationship with my partners.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I read Insider’s Travel Report, read Conde Nast Traveler, Virtuoso Magazine, Robb Report. I watch recorded webinars on Virtuoso and or from preferred partners. I sometimes listen to podcasts. We have different resources we use for travel requirements etc.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dmctraveltailor.com/
- Instagram: dmctraveltailor https://www.instagram.com/dmctraveltailor/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stefany.manno (personal) and https://www.facebook.com/DMCTravelTailor/ (business)
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefany-di-manno-ceccato-01510ba/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dmctraveltailor1463
