Working in the travel industry is all about making dreams come true for MJ Vigeant and her husband Dennis, the new owners of All-Ways Travel.
After 21 years working in the fast-paced and demanding environment of the construction business, Vigeant says she is looking forward to coming in to work and “having people come in to talk to me excited and happy. It’s a whole different world which, for me is awesome.”
The Vigeants took over ownership of the travel agency on Nov.1 and according to MJ, it was the summer wildfires that prompted the change in career.
“For whatever reason, after the fire I thought, okay it’s time for a change,” she says. “I needed a new challenge. One of the things I never realized was how comfortable I was at my prior job until I stepped out of it and into a new one.”
And so far, she is truly enjoying her new job. She sees the travel agency as a very important tool for people who are short on time.
“It’s like hiring a housekeeper to get your house cleaned because of time. Or you just want it professionally done. For me, that’s what a travel agency is. It’s a place to go have professional service where it doesn’t cost you your time.”
She adds that even in the age of the internet, a travel agency is still the way to go. Aside from saving yourself the time of dealing with all the details yourself, the professional agents who work at All-Ways Travel have “absolutely endless resources” at their disposal.
Vigeant also notes that by working with people who really know what they’re doing, your vacation or adventure will be worry and error-free. People may even be surprised with everything the competent agents can do for you. They can send you anywhere, any time, on any trip. They also coordinate weddings, group trips, and have a corporate agent that deals with business travel.
“People maybe don’t realize that there’s really nothing the agents can’t do.”
Sylvia Rashbrook and her husband Stan owned and operated the travel agency for 12 years and add that “when people come here, they are supporting a local business.”
“I can’t stress enough how important that is,” says Sylvia. “You have professional and wonderful people who will sit down with you and run you through a trip, start to finish.” She calls the talent of the qualified agents at All-Ways Travel “mind-boggling” and remembers sending happy and excited people on countless trips in the last 12 years.
“We want to thank the community of Williams Lake and surrounding area for their patronage and help and that’s something I’m going to miss,” says Rashbrook. “They kept us in business and I want to invite them to continue supporting the agency and MJ.”