About Us
Wide Horizons Travel LLC is a full-service travel agency providing great vacations to individuals, families, groups, those working on their travel bucket list, and travelers searching their genealogical roots.
How We Got Started
Owner Laurie Scott has been a curious traveler throughout her life. Her childhood home was often host to guests from countries all over the world; those relationships provided an opportunity for Laurie to visit more than a dozen countries before she was 21. Her international exchange relationships continued as she raised her own family, with opportunities for her children to know and live with students from Brazil, Sweden, Spain, Germany, Ukraine, Thailand, South Korea, Bermuda and France. Now, as those students have become adults with their own families, Laurie boasts international ‘grandchildren’ all over the world.
This sense of world citizenry is what sparked her passion for travel, and her decision to launch Wide Horizons Travel.
The products and services we offer
Recommendations Received (16)
"I am impressed by this woman owed business!"
"If you are planning a trip and want to feel comfortable that all of your details and needs are..."
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"If you are planning a trip and want to feel comfortable that all of your details and needs are met then I highly recommend Laurie to be your travel advisor.
I went on a bus tour to Ireland with Laurie and it was amazing, every detail was taken care of. We had a great stress free trip."
Products & Services
Wide Horizons Travel is a full service travel agency providing travel planning services for leisure, adventure, group and genealogical travel. We ...
Wide Horizons Travel creates travel experiences for individuals, families, groups, adventurers and those searching their genealogical roots. We wo...
Make your big day extra special with Wide Horizons Travel LLC. We specialize in planning destination weddings, helping you with the planning and lo...
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Recommendations Given (13)
"Perfect place to meet and have a great cup of coffee. Servers are friendly and creative, and the..."
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"Perfect place to meet and have a great cup of coffee. Servers are friendly and creative, and the 'ambience' of trains passing nearby adds to the hometown feel. "
"Yummy food, comfortable atmosphere, and friendly staff!"
Recent Activity
I am a member of BNI, Business Networking International. in my first year in business 40% of my revenue came from referrals from members. I'm also a member of the Chamber of Commerce in my town, which keeps me front and center with active members. I have also join my state's Gay and Lesbian...
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I am a member of BNI, Business Networking International. in my first year in business 40% of my revenue came from referrals from members. I'm also a member of the Chamber of Commerce in my town, which keeps me front and center with active members. I have also join my state's Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and attend their meetings and activities regularly.
I tell my referring colleagues that I am always on the look-out for people who have a travel bucket list, or a multigenerational family where everyone is at an age where travel is an option, and those in cyclical businesses (tax accountants, for example) who really need a vacation after their busy season. I also find that working within affinity groups (book clubs, wine lovers, people with Irish ancestry, for example) helps me to develop groups, and that is a huge part of my business.
I am also very active on my business Facebook page, announcing and boosting new destinations, a group trips.
I hope this is helpful! Good luck!
Marketing is a multi-faceted process. I think it is important to be visible to your potential customer through a variety of methods. In 2018, I will be marketing digitally through my website, Facebook, MailChimp, and focused email campaigns. I will also market my business through a very...
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Marketing is a multi-faceted process. I think it is important to be visible to your potential customer through a variety of methods. In 2018, I will be marketing digitally through my website, Facebook, MailChimp, and focused email campaigns. I will also market my business through a very intentional networking effort, through my local chamber of commerce, active membership in BNI, and my state-wide LGBT Chamber of Commerce. I have set a goal of at least one speaking engagement per quarter, and am now scheduled for a Women's Business Luncheon and the local Senior Center. In addition, I will be hosting travel events both for specific trips and also through Meetup. Perhaps the most exciting to me is that I have recently partnered with two local companies -- one, a Celtic store working with me on a group trip to Ireland, and second, a local diner looking forward to taking their customers and friends to Greece in 2019. I hope this is helpful. Reach out anytime.
Hi Nina, Laurie Scott from Wide Horizons Travel here. I too have some unique niche specialty service that require a different approach to reach my audiences.
First, are you affiliated with a host agency? If so, have you talked to your member services contact? I have found that there is...
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Hi Nina, Laurie Scott from Wide Horizons Travel here. I too have some unique niche specialty service that require a different approach to reach my audiences.
First, are you affiliated with a host agency? If so, have you talked to your member services contact? I have found that there is great advice within my host agency.
Next, are you networking in the right demographic? My niche specialty is genealogical travel, and I have joined several networking groups to reach prospective clients. Specifically, I have joined my local chamber (and I attend their networking gatherings religiously), a local chapter of BNI (Business Networking International) and have more than paid for the membership fee in referred business.
I have also reached out to other experts in my specialty, such as historical societies, local and international genealogical societies, and specific heritage groups (in my area, there is huge interest, for example, in following Irish roots, so I have reached out to Irish dance groups, Catholic communities, and Irish/Celtic store owners.
This may not be your specialty, but I hope you can see some parallel opportunities for your company. Remember, that YOU are the expert in your kind of travel, and you are actually your best marketer. If you feel you are ready to bring a marketing professional into the mix, they will want to know where you think your most likely clients can be found, or at least who you think that client is.\
I hope this is helpful. Please reach out if you'd like to explore this topic. I'm happy to talk by phone if helpful.
1 Reply
Marketing is not a "best tool" process. You'll want to consider multiple channels to keep your business in front of prospective customers. I use Facebook and Instagram to keep my business and promotions in front of my followers, and I boost my posts for a small fee, so that I can invite new...
(more)
Marketing is not a "best tool" process. You'll want to consider multiple channels to keep your business in front of prospective customers. I use Facebook and Instagram to keep my business and promotions in front of my followers, and I boost my posts for a small fee, so that I can invite new followers to like my page. In addition, I have a LinkedIn page, so that my professional colleagues of all backgrounds know that this is what I'm doing professionally. Finally, and I really think this is essential, I have joined three networking groups so that I am continuously meeting people who can refer me to potential clients. I suggest you find a BNI (Business Networking International) chapter in your area. It can be an expensive investment, but after two months of membership, I have received referrals valued at three times the cost of membership. I hope this is helpful.
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Join a BNI chapter with an active real estate agent. There is a chapter in Old Saybrook looking for a stager. Message me for more info
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Join a BNI chapter with an active real estate agent. There is a chapter in Old Saybrook looking for a stager. Message me for more info
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