Founded last year by physical therapist-turned-travel professional Ashley Gabriel and her pilot husband John Gabriel in Newtown, Gabriel Travel Co. is a full service travel business, offering its clients everything from luxury vacations to executive travel services to private jet charters.

For this week’s travel special, Ashley Gabriel shared her insights into the business with us:

Ashley, thank you for your time. How would you gauge the “health” of the travel business in the tristate area?

“We consider the health of the travel industry to be good throughout the Connecticut and New York area. The travel adviser industry has experienced a strong post-pandemic recovery, driven by rising demand for personalized, luxury and niche travel experiences.”

In the age of Google flights, Expedia, Skyscanner and hotels encouraging us to book with them directly for the best deals, why use a travel adviser?

“Working with a travel adviser isn’t just about the prices; it’s about the service you receive in booking your trip and the support throughout your trip….We aren’t just looking for the best price; we focus on the best value. For instance, with regards to search tools such as Google flights, the price may be attractive, but the posted fare may include restrictions in cancelation policies and service options that many travelers deem as “must haves.” We’re able to read between the lines of the various options available to provide the clients with the choice that fits their travel profile.”

How has the travel adviser’s role changed post-pandemic?

“The post-pandemic travel industry has boomed and, as such, so have the travel options available to the consumer, whether it be websites or travel advisers. The work-from-home movement produced many new travel advisers, which is wonderful, but, like most industries, that comes with a word of caution. We suggest finding an experienced adviser that either fits your niche or can connect with your “travel personality” best. For instance, our agency comes with almost 20 years of personal travel experience as well as experience coordinating travel and private jet flights for UHNWI (ultra-high-net-worth individuals) and Fortune 500 business executives.”

What is your take on so-called “experiential” travel? Do travelers really want the whole raft of experiences now being offered them, or is this just a case of the hotel industry realizing it can actually increase revenue by offering extras their guests neither need nor want?

“We find that the experiential travel trend is real. However, one size does not fit all. For instance, an ‘epicurean adventure’ may mean different things to different people. We focus less on the ‘experience’ and more on the ‘tastes’ of the client. We like to call these kinds of experiential travel itineraries ‘personalized travel.’”

Is intergenerational travel still a thing, and/or was it really ever?

“Intergenerational travel is increasingly popular as families look to create lasting memories and bridge the generational gap through shared experiences. Outside of honeymoon trips, the vast majority of bookings cross at least two generations. It’s up to the travel adviser to get to know each traveler’s needs/desires and understand what the family unit collectively wants to experience.”

Tell us more about how your business is structured.

“We’re a husband and wife-owned agency with one additional team member, Meegan Aschen, who handles our marketing. As a small family business, we don’t have a brick and mortar location and enjoy the flexibility of remote work. Our compensation structure depends on the complexity of the trip being planned. For luxury, detail-oriented travel or for complex itineraries, we charge a planning fee discussed after the initial consultation. However, for those seeking routine trips or family travel, we aim to work on commission-only. What we tell these clients is that our goal is to provide value while keeping money in their pockets.”

What is your top-selling service, or put another way, your “bread and butter”?

“Our services are wide-ranging, but our expertise truly lies within our experience in complex itinerary planning, exotic locations and private jet flights.”

What are your top destinations and the most exotic you’ve ever booked for a client?

“One of the more exotic locations we’ve had (and where John has personally been) is Longyearbyen Svalbard, a remote Norwegian island grouping in the Arctic Circle — the farthest north civilization in the world. The most popular destinations we book are in the Caribbean and throughout Europe.”