5 Minutes with a Travel Advisor: John Beeler
Spend a few minutes getting to know John Beeler, President, Altitude Luxury Experiences | Altitude Travel Management | Independent Affiliate of Cadence
Tell us something about being an advisor that most people don’t know.
We’re still a thing! And we’re going to be an even bigger “thing” as the industry recovers from the pandemic!!
Tell us your travel origin story! What led you to a life in travel?
Growing up in the resort town of Sedona, AZ, tourism and hospitality is in my blood. My first job during high school was as a bellhop at a small boutique property in town, where I had the chance to serve as a first point of contact for guests. It was in this role that I learned early on of my intrinsic client service skills. As a result, my tenure evolved to encompass Front Desk and Concierge roles, and by the time I left Sedona for college, I was shadowing in the Sales Department. Working in hospitality during this time in my life opened my mind to career opportunities in the travel industry. One day while working on sales reports encompassing different sales channels, I had the epiphany of becoming a travel agent, providing the perfect opportunity to build a career selling travel all over the world. What could be better than that?
How long have you been in travel/with Cadence, etc.?
I have been a travel advisor since September 2013, where in my Junior year of College, I had a “lightning bolt” opportunity to serve as a remote virtual assistant and understudy to a Los Angeles-based Virtuoso agency owner. From September 2013 to May 2015, I enjoyed a “learn by doing” crash-course in all-things ultra high-end travel, firming my feeling that there is no other career I would rather pursue. From May 2015 to September 2019, I had the incredible opportunity to expand my skills and technical knowledge of selling travel under an incredible mentor who “taught me to fish” so to speak, and really impressed upon me the importance of valuing your time. In September 2019, I made the best decision yet in joining Cadence, as coincidentally I experienced a meteoric period of growth in my business overall driven by both leisure and corporate bookings, which I was exceptionally well-positioned to service at my new host agency. Even despite the pandemic and its unfortunate timing, the ongoing support and guidance I’ve received at Cadence has helped me continue to grow, service active business, and stay focused on recovering and growing my business post-pandemic.
What does being a part of Cadence mean to you?
Being a part of Cadence, to me, means having a career family behind me as I establish my place in the world. No one in travel thrives alone—we depend on each other to be able to give our all to our clients and guests. Every single member of the Cadence family has gone out of their way to reiterate their support. It truly takes a village, and Cadence is a beautiful one to be a part of.
What’s your favorite aspect of being a travel advisor?
Lately we have all been witness to the tragedy of small-mindedness. For this I firmly believe travel is the ultimate cure. Experiencing a different culture, even if it’s simply the next state over, has the most powerful impact on expanding understanding and respect for people who may live life very differently.
What was your most recent travel adventure?
I hate to bring up the pandemic twice, but when I think back on personal travels, I really “went out with a bang” not even realizing it at the time. In January 2020, I had the most exceptional ski opportunity of my life, in joining Alpine Adventures for a luxury FAM to Aspen for Gay Ski Week 2020. Not only did we get to enjoy accommodation at both Hotel Jerome and the Little Nell, but we also experienced sublime blue-sky “bluebird” skiing, and we even managed to grab the perfect table for afternoon bubbly at Cloud 9 on Aspen Mountain. We checked every single box we could in truly enjoying the most that pre-pandemic life had to offer. I had an incredible time with my agent and vendor colleagues, and we eagerly await the opportunity to reunite on the mountain.
Where are you going next?
Ocean waves have been occupying my mind for some time now—currently scheming my next visit to Hawaii. It’s the only cure for 2020!
What have you learned from the pandemic in 2020?
The biggest lesson I took away from the pandemic was to not try and predict the future. It is in our nature as travel advisors to anticipate needs and design the world around them—this period in history showed us that we can never predict, only plan, and react accordingly. Much as we took our pre-pandemic lives for granted, I also believe many of our clients may have taken our concierge-style service for granted. The pandemic really solidified the value of the modern luxury travel advisor, as we now navigate restarting travel in a world of pre-departure testing, pre-return testing, vaccines, border closures, and other complexities we never lived with prior.
Give us one prediction about the future of travel.
When it is safe to travel once again (in a universal context), I believe there will be an explosion of travel bookings, primarily internationally, but also domestically. Unlike movie theaters and shopping malls, there is no “virtual’ or “at home” replacement or substitute for the feeling of being pressed back into your seat as the plane rolls down the runway and off to foreign lands.
What is something you’re excited about?
Hopping in an Uber to LAX. Bypassing a crazy security line with TSA Pre-Check. Escaping a chaotic terminal to the solace of a lively business class lounge and the salve of a stiff cocktail. Can you tell what’s on my mind!?
Give us one word that best describes Cadence.
Support!
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