Viola de Velasco has been in the travel industry for more than 30 years, starting first as a corporate travel advisor in Los Angeles and eventually becoming the vice president of sales operations at tech-forward host agency, Avoya Travel.  

Her love of exploring the world began during her childhood in Nicaragua, where de Velasco spent her vacations exploring the tropical landscapes of the Central American country with her three younger siblings in tow. When unrest and revolution caused her to leave her home behind and move to the U.S., de Velasco quickly made a name for herself in Los Angeles’ international banking scene before shifting gears and becoming a corporate travel advisor for law firms across the city.  

In this episode of Humans of Travel, de Velasco shares what it was like working as a travel advisor in the 1980s, when perks of the job included heavily discounted airline tickets and glamorous weekend shopping trips to Hong Kong and Paris. She’ll also detail the shift toward automation in travel, and how she’s helping today’s travel advisors up their skill sets through her role at Avoya. 

We’ll also hear about an especially memorable pre-pandemic trip to Spain, where de Velasco embarked on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, walking 72 miles and discovering physical and spiritual strengths she didn’t know she had.  

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Avoya's Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/AvoyaTravelNetwork 

Avoya's LinkedIn Page: www.linkedin.com/company/avoya-travel  

Avoya's Consumer-Facing Website: www.avoyatravel.com 

Avoya's Advisor-Facing Website: www.avoyanetwork.com

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is the Managing Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. 

TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum. 

ABOUT THE SHOW 

TravelAge West’s podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the experiences — the highs and the lows — that make them human.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.