Joanna Mireles
One of the most important things I provide is the peace of mind that comes with having someone you can rely on to help you out who actually cares about your well-being. I know how miserable it can be to have a middle seat on a flight or to get to a hotel and have to wait for your room, so I go the extra mile to double check seat assignments and ensure you are comfortable when you arrive at your destination.
Many of my clients have been with me 15 years and more, and I get to know them very well. The longer someone travels with me, the more they appreciate what I do, and what I can do for them. For example, as soon as a storm comes up that might affect your flight, I am tracking it. If necessary, I have the airline on the phone and am re-booking you before you even know you are facing a canceled flight or a significant delay.
In addition to being detail-oriented and diligent, I am incredibly tenacious. If you have a problem, I won’t stop working on it for you until it is solved, even if it isn’t “my job.” For example, a client who was a platinum traveler with United Airlines had to undergo cancer treatments and couldn’t travel for six months, so her elite status was going to expire. I called my contact at United and got her status extended for over a year.
I’ve always been drawn to a career in travel and during my 20 years in the industry, I have worn every hat on the rack. After high school, I earned an Associate of Science degree in World Travel Management and a BA in Communications before joining TWA. Working at an airline provided me with a lot of insight into the travel industry that has served me well.
From there, I moved to Carlson Wagonlit Travel, then to Corporate Traveler where I learned the ins and outs of corporate travel management. Corporate travel planning is my passion. I love the fast pace, the day-to-day dealings with my clients, and the consistency of knowing my travelers and their different wants and preferences. Being on the road can be very exhausting, and it is very satisfying to be able to help make their lives better in very tangible ways.
With over 17 years of experience, I moved to Protravel International because of all that they offer - both directly to my clients and their behind-the-scenes support. Protravel is one of the biggest and most influential agencies, and they have a lot of pull with hotels, airlines and other suppliers.
My clients love the value-added benefits that Protravel and its affiliation with Virtuoso provide such as free hotel upgrades when available and major cost savings on international air and access to waivers and preferred seating at no additional charge.
Protravel’s powerful back-office support makes my job much less stressful by automating time-consuming tasks such as invoicing and flight and fare tracking. That frees up my time so I can focus on what I love, providing you with personalized, hands-on customer service.