Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Weidert.
Hi Annie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I officially started in the travel industry in 2015, but my journey began long before that. Twenty-seven years ago, I planned my first Disney World vacation and quickly fell down the rabbit hole of researching park strategies, dining reservations, and ways to make the most of every day. What started as planning one trip turned into years of creating detailed itineraries for my own family and friends.
Over time, I became the person everyone called when they were planning a vacation. I genuinely enjoyed the research process and loved seeing how much confidence people gained when they had a well-thought-out plan in hand. After years of planning trips for myself and others, I reached out to a friend who owned a travel agency and asked if I could join her team as an advisor.
At the time, I assumed travel would be a side hustle. My primary career was elementary education. I loved working with children and the relationships I built with my students, but over the years the realities of the profession began to change. Increasing micromanagement, shifting parent-teacher dynamics, and eventually the chaos of COVID led me to question whether the classroom was still where I was meant to be.
Meanwhile, my travel business continued to grow. I had built a loyal client base, earned referrals through word of mouth, and discovered that helping people create meaningful travel experiences energized me in a way few things ever had. When I finally made the leap into travel full-time, it felt less like changing careers and more like stepping into the role I had been preparing for all along.
Today, there are still weeks when I’m tied to my desk long hours or answering calls on weekends, but I can truly say I love what I do. I feel incredibly fortunate that I now get to help others create memories of their own.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I don’t think anyone in the travel industry would describe the road as smooth. Travel is full of moving parts, and when something goes wrong, it often happens far from home. Over the years, I’ve helped clients navigate flight cancellations, hurricanes, rail strikes, travel restrictions, and just about every unexpected challenge you can imagine. A big part of my job is solving problems behind the scenes so my clients can focus on enjoying the vacation they’ve spent months looking forward to.
Without question, though, the biggest challenge of my career was COVID. If you ask travel advisors who were in the industry at that time, most will probably give the same answer. For more than a year, instead of planning dream vacations, we spent our days cancelling trips we had invested countless hours designing. It was heartbreaking, especially when there were so many unknowns about when travel would return.
Because travel advisors are typically paid by commission after a client travels, the financial impact was significant. Many advisors went months, and even years, with very little income. Looking back, however, I was fortunate. When borders began reopening, I had clients who were eager to travel again. Many of those who couldn’t travel chose to postpone their trips rather than cancel them altogether. Their trust and loyalty helped sustain my business during one of the most difficult periods our industry has ever faced, and it’s something I’ll always be grateful for.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Adventures by Annie?
I’m a full-service travel advisor, but not the travel agent people remember from decades ago.
There was a time when you walked into a brick-and-mortar travel agency, asked for a trip to Italy, and were handed a one-size-fits-all itinerary. The next time you heard from your travel agent was when your travel documents arrived in the mail. Because of that, many people assume travel agents have disappeared. In reality, we’re busier than ever.
Today, I work with clients from the very first spark of an idea all the way through their return home. I design custom itineraries, book travel arrangements, provide recommendations, and serve as a resource and advocate throughout the entire process. While I specialize in Caribbean destinations, I also help clients plan trips to Europe, Hawaii, Alaska, Central America, Disney destinations, and cruises around the world.
What sets me apart is my commitment to creating travel experiences that are tailored to the individual. Before I start making recommendations, I take time to learn about my clients- their interests, travel style, priorities, and even the little details that make a trip meaningful. For example, if I learn that a client is passionate about history, I may recommend a small-group tour led by a local historian rather than a standard sightseeing excursion. If a family loves food and cooking, I might incorporate a hands-on cooking class or local culinary experience into their itinerary. The goal isn’t simply to book a trip; it’s to design an experience that feels personal to the people taking it.
While I have a proven planning process to ensure every detail is covered, no two trips are planned exactly the same way. Planning an adults-only anniversary getaway looks very different from planning a family’s first trip to Disney or a multi-generational cruise. Every itinerary is built around the travelers themselves.
What I’m most proud of is the trust my clients place in me. Many of my bookings come from repeat clients and referrals, which tells me I’ve succeeded in building relationships rather than simply completing transactions. At the heart of my business is helping people create meaningful memories while giving them the confidence that someone is looking out for them every step of the way.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Most people are surprised to learn that I’m actually an introvert and a homebody.
While I love exploring new places and experiencing different cultures, there’s nothing better than coming home. That’s one of the reasons I’m so passionate about travel. Leaving home allows us to experience new things, make memories, and gain a different perspective. But it also gives us a renewed appreciation for the comforts, routines, and people waiting for us when we return. For me, travel isn’t about escaping life- it’s about enriching it and then bringing those experiences back with you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://adventuresbyannie.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adventuresbyannie/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdventuresbyAnnie
