The daughter of an immigrant parent, Sarah Groen said she always felt that she was expected to succeed.    

And, thanks to her “failure is not an option” mindset, she found success swiftly in her early adult life — from positions in oil and gas investment banking to co-founding her own startup and working as an executive for Uber.  

However, in 2018, Groen found herself burnt out from the corporate world and in need of a new venture. She applied to the mentorship program at Brownell (one of America’s oldest travel agencies) and Bell + Bly Travel — a luxury agency where clients are often spending upward of $1,000 per day — was born.  

Since joining the travel industry, Groen has won Virtuoso’s Most Innovative Travel Advisor award for 2021 for her work during the COVID-19 pandemic (which includes recording some 100 episodes for her newly launched podcast, Luxury Travel Insider, where she interviews authorities in the luxury travel space about the latest updates and trending destinations).  

In this episode of Humans of Travel, Groen reflects on the moments she fell in love with traveling (during a trip to Germany at age 15, and then again during two study abroad tours in college), and what it was like paving the way as a female entrepreneur in largely male-dominated industries prior to her career in travel.  

She also speaks about how she’s had to adapt and change a few of her workaholic tendencies, and shares advice for travel advisors looking to break into the luxury space. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Sarah’s Podcast: Luxury Travel Insider

Bell & Bly Travel

Sarah’s Instagram: @Sarahgoesglobal

Brownell Travel

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is the Digital Managing Editor of TravelAge West, a print and online magazine 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.