Margaret Majcherczyk, president and co-owner of the travel agency Classic Travel (http://www.classic-travel.com) makes an impression on people for not only knowing how to travel but with passion and class. She helps her clients make wise investments in vacation time and with her conversation with Justyna Suric she goes even further. She speaks of the newest trends in the travel industry and gives her opinion on how to keep a good medium between being a happy woman and an active businesswoman.
Link to article (only available in Polish): MojeNYC.com
Did you intend to become a travel agent?
Only because of my passion! As a young girl I dreamed of becoming a stewardess. I loved just the thought of traveling, especially since at one point in Poland people did not really travel.
How come you were not able to realize your dreams of becoming a stewardess?
With age came different ideas. I was very interested in art history. I loved sculptures, metal work and painting, even considering interior design until I ended up in the U.S. and recognized huge potential in traveling. In the second half of the 70's travel was very inexpensive. It was extremely plausible to take a four day vacation to Bermuda or Bahamas. My path to travel was made simple because it combined with passion and pleasure. Wanting to explore the world also helped fuel my decision in addition to my charisma and willingness to influence others to invest in traveling.
How many years experience do you have in the field?
27.
That sounds like plenty, is there still anything that surprises you?
Of course! For about 30 years I have been traveling. Thanks to that I have plenty experience, although there is still plenty that surprises me because the travel market is always changing. This ever changing industry provides me with new experiences.
How are services changing?
In a good way! The industry has created the concept of so called 'all-inclusive' getaways where everything is included in one price. This brings about competition where every hotel is looking to redesign their look and accommodate people with more restaurants and attractions.
Do you see any negative effects of such changes to service?
Unfortunately, the food quality is getting worse due to a general crisis around the world. This is of course not evident everywhere, though the trend is that all-inclusive restaurant kitchens may not have the best food. Fortunately for our clients there are always options and it all depends on a clients budget and preferences. The role of travel agents in this process is huge and agents need to adapt to the needs of the clients, who do not always pay attention to the level of service offered at certain resorts but rather the beach and scenery over value. Some people do not want to rest, but instead go out to clubs and such. Other love luxury, good food, peace and relaxation.
You look like someone who enjoys luxury!
(Smile) I will admit that I am somewhat spoiled by the good hotels that I was once able to enjoy complimentary stay to experience their luxuries. Who doesn't like comfort and luxury? The real question is if we can afford it and how much of it.
What to do if you can't afford the luxury?
When the tourist season changes and not many travel it is possible to find good deals that can bring you luxury at a reasonable price. I have to admit that in the past few years it has been more and more difficult to find good deals. Airlines have cut back on flights and those that remain fill up very quickly. I remember once one could spend a thousand dollars and have a week in a luxury hotel that offered a multitude of attractions. Nowadays that same deal would be 30% more expensive.
You have toured many countries, some more than once. Are there still places that you travel to that you are still excited to visit?
Every time I go I feel such emotions! It doesn't make a difference to me if I am going somewhere for the first time or for the seventh time. For example, Las Vegas. Not everyone likes this city and some claim it's the quintessential sin city. I am constantly finding new places in Las Vegas that are very much exciting, whether they are new hotels or stores, theaters that provide new avenues of entertainment such as artists like Celine Dion. There's always something new going on there. When we go from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon it's also everchanging. The canyon looks different depending on time of day and day of the year and so it's very exciting for someone who loves life, like I do.
What does traveling mean for you?
Searching for new, different things and confronting your fantasies with the world. Getting to know the world is a beautiful thing and doing so with other people, namely friends and family, is even better. I love learning more about the world and in every place I find something positive. In touring India I had many mixed emotions in that I am especially touched by witnessing poverty and such, although in this place I found plenty of beauty. Thanks to travel a person prospers on the inside and learns to be humble and see the bright side of life. One must take note that it is often those people who never travel who are often unhappy with life. Their horizons are narrow and are sometimes quicker to complain. To put it in words, as someone beautifully did: 'Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer'.
Do you have certain clients, travel enthusiasts, who are very demanding?
Yes, but I have no problem dealing with them. Women in the business sometimes have it easier than men to deal with clients because some have better intuition, they see details better and are good at reading people. When guiding a group of lets say 30 people you will always find one or two persons who are not happy, but I have a certain approach to them. I tend to remain balanced and calm, which is best explained by my astrological sign of Capricorn! I know I would be a good psychologist given the proper education. As a business owner you have to know which clients you can be facetious with and which you have to be more delicate with.
Is that the formula for success in travel?
In order to attain success, you have to enjoy what you do. Next, you have to have plenty of patience and discipline because only then can you go far. Passion is essential.
Sometimes passion is not enough, right?
That is true and it is why persistence and a good approach to people is necessary, as I mentioned earlier. Optimism and some luck are also needed. It is also extremely important to not prioritize only what benefits you financially, because people will not be happy that way. I was aware that the tourist industry wouldn't bring me loads of money. I knew that success cannot be defined in dollar bills, but through satisfaction, and I get this from hearing back from clients who are very happy with a vacation.
Which place in the world makes you happy?
Rio De Janerio. This is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The layout of the city itself is fascinating. You can not only find a vast jungle in the region, but also mountains with beautiful scenery that includes the ocean, palm trees and beach that take your breath away. Vancouver and San Francisco are also beautiful, as well as Hong Kong, Dubai, Sydney. I very much enjoy big cities that have plenty stores, great music and plenty of leisure activities.
By looking at any client, are you able to determine their travel preferences?
(Smile) I first have to ask a few questions to determine their preferences. I would ask them about their budget and if they rather look for fun things to do or mostly sightsee. If someone is interested in water sports then that's my cue to direct them to the Cayman Islands. If someone is not big on relaxing by pools, then I look for resorts that are beachside. It helps to know their travel history and if they favor big cities or more remote locations because not everyone likes big crowds and commotion.
How do people of Polish descent in the U.S. like to travel?
They like to travel for relaxation and leisure and therefore choose a better class of hotels than most. A hundred or two hundred dollar difference in price is worth it for them if the level of service is higher. Women love to spend vacations in clean and elegant resorts because they can then return home feeling rested. Hotel owners realize this and therefore rennovate hotels every few years. This is especially true in the Caribbean and Mexico, where everything wears out quicker due to the high humidity.
Where do women travel to most?
Everywhere where spas and beautiful clear turqoise water beaches could be found.
Where would you go for a dream vacation?
French Polynesia, Seychelles, Thailand. Most likely I would travel to a place that I have never been to before. I would love to see Australia, New Zealand and Africa because I love animals as well as nature.
I noticed that people often dream about traveling, but never get around to it.
One cannot put aside traveling because not only do some places change, but travel is different at every age. People often set aside traveling until after retirement, which works well for some, but for others their health can greatly limit them. We should take advantage of our health because not only can you see more, but you can do adventurous and active things that you may not be able to when retired. Why put travel aside? If you have to, borrow money and do it whne you can because traveling really ripens the soul and creates a better perspective on life. Travel when you can!
Carpe Diem?
Yes! Not everyone has this view, but I wish it upon everyone. People with optimism and awareness of the beauties of life have a much better lifestyle.
How do you spend weekends when you are not working?
We once used to travel out of town, up to places in Upstate New York like Hunter, Lake George or Montauk in Long Island. Often we plan outings with friends and given there's always plenty going on I try to split time at different events with my husband to make sure we visit everyone we can.
What do you do for yourself?
Shopping, outings to the mall, massages, salon and spa! One of my biggest pleasures is taking care of myself because I like to look good. When a woman stops taking care of herself she can say goodbye to success.
I can see you take care of yourself in terms of health.
I don't like gyms. I rather run, take my dog for a walk, swim and in the winter I ski. I also enjoy cooking and am fascinated by the culinary aspects of other countries when I travel, which translates to me returning from trips with plenty of cooking ideas. In my opinion to be a good cook you have to be creative and have a good imagination. What do I cook? Everything, and my family loves it. From quesadillas to tacos to baked ziti to pizza, I like to maintain variety. My favorite is Thai cuisine. I try to eat healthy, because it forms the basis of one's health.
How do you keep in shape while enjoying good cuisines?
It's a matter of proper eating habits, which are especially important for people who are prone to weight gain. I make sure to drink plenty of water, because water helps flush out toxins and helps to burn fat.
How have you been able to combine business with family and home time? You do have three sons!
To be honest, when I was a young woman I did not think I would be running my own travel agency. Until age 28 I worked in fantastic agencies where I gained plenty of experience in the field. My husband is a big travel enthusiast and so we combined our knowledge and passion to run a business, but only after we raised our kids. We started our business when we knew that we can give it our all, all the while not sacrificing the most vital time with our children. Family for me is the most important!
You are an experienced wife, mother and businesswoman. Do you come across women who are able to impress you?
Last year I got to know the famous Polish traveler/author Beata Pawlikowska, who made an enormous impression on me. I am always intrigued by women who have flair, a sense of humor, are bright and at the same time warm and sensitive. That is who Beata is, who turns out to be a very organized person. I also enjoy meeting fearless women who lets say are locked out of their house climb through a window to get in. What I think makes us most unique is our great intuition and how we can be good at reading people.
Conversation with Justyna Suric
