After receiving the encouragement they needed, Débora Vicente and Marco Rocha decided to create a completely online travel agency. After almost a year of existence, with around 500 bookings made and around a thousand people served, they talk to Correio dos Açores about how this adventure has gone, the different types of packages they offer, and which destination their customers are most looking for. “We’re just a direct message away,” say Débora and Marco, the website’s founders.
Correio dos Açores – How did the idea of creating a travel agency come about?
Débora Vicente and Marco Rocha – The idea of creating a travel agency was a joke, initially to help friends/family and acquaintances organize their trips since we travel frequently. Many people came to us asking where and how to book flights, the best times, which destinations we would recommend, and our opinion of them. As we were helping in this regard, a close friend asked us why we didn’t take this more seriously and opened our own agency. At the time, we were reluctant because we already had our own job (and still do), and that would mean more responsibility and extra time to fit in other work. After some consideration, we decided to take a chance and, surprisingly, we were very much in demand.
Brumas e Cenários, an existing company focused on local tourism tours and transfers, invited us to join their team, so we were in charge of the travel agency side.
Why Brumas e Cenários?
Brumas e Cenários came about due to the expansion of tourism in 2015, which was the year that Ryanair started operating in Ponta Delgada and, as a result, there was a great need to create a company to serve diversified tourism, with a strong focus on tours around the island. There is also a great love for our island, its culture, and its roots, which means it is also a source of pride to show outsiders the natural beauty of every nook and cranny of São Miguel. The name also conveys this, i.e., islands of mist and showcasing the incredible scenery here.
The DM Travel website was created in response to the travel agency part, thus separating the different services provided by Brumas e Cenários. DM Travel was the name we adopted since it’s just the two of us on the travel side (DM – Débora and Marco), and DM also stands for Direct Message since we only work via social media, meaning that all you need is a direct message to ask us for a quote.
What are the main differences between Brumas e Cenários and a traditional agency?
Brumas e Cenários has extensive experience in providing transfer and tourism services, guaranteeing a quality and safe service.
In the case of our travel agency, there is no need to go to a physical location to ask for a quote or even to clarify any doubts; all you need to do is send us a message on social media. Both services offer personalized customer support.
What kind of public do you cater to?
We have people from all age groups, including different nationalities. Whether you’re traveling as a couple, as a family or solo.
You spread the word via social media. Do you have a physical space where people can meet you?
The tours team used to have their office in the center of Ponta Delgada, which didn’t work out because clients ended up making all their bookings online, so they are now moving the office to a warehouse in Santa Clara (Rua Carreira do Tiro nº5), where they also concentrate the whole operation in one space. Vehicle storage, maintenance, cleaning, etc.
As an online travel agency, we currently have no physical space.
Were your professional backgrounds an asset when it came to opening an agency?
In my case (Marco), yes, it was an asset, as I have a position as a senior IT consultant (in ERP software) with extensive experience in the areas of management and accounting, thus being a fundamental resource for good business management.
In my case (Débora), as a social worker, although the area itself is not directly related to tourism, it has made it easier to communicate and empathize with the different types of people who come to us, considering that the profession of social worker requires the use of communication tools to serve users.
Brumas e Cenários has a transfer service. Is this a service that is available to your clients?
Yes, it’s completely available, and it’s an added value since the services (transfers and travel agency) are provided by a single company, thus facilitating good organization of the whole process. The same applies to the tour services provided locally on the island.
What kind of packages does your agency offer clients?
All kinds of packages, from all-inclusive trips to 2 or 3-day getaways, visits to European cities, personalized tours, cruises, in other words, anything the client wants. In addition to the packages we usually publish on our website, we also make customized trips at the client’s request, depending on the date and destination. The same applies when the client doesn’t have a destination in mind and just gives us a budget, and we evaluate the possibilities to meet it so they can make their trip happen.
Is it easy to balance personal life with work and the agency?
It’s not always easy. Because in addition to our working hours, we also have the agency side, which requires time and dedication to find the best solution for our clients.
We dedicate much of our after-work time to the travel agency, thus ensuring good customer satisfaction.
Do you have a destination that you suggest the most? If so, why?
Yes, Gran Canaria, due to the ease of the direct flights we have from Ponta Delgada, because many clients ask us for all-inclusive beach destinations without wasting much time on flights or stopovers.
In your opinion, is it difficult to travel these days?
No. In the case of the Azores, we almost always have to stop in mainland Portugal to reach our final destination. However, despite the stopovers, we can easily go anywhere in the world due to the wide range of flights on offer from different airlines.
Once at the destination, it’s also easy, since nowadays everyone has a smartphone with internet access, where you can check routes, transport, points of interest, etc.
What was your dream trip?
Marco, I have two. Tromsø in Norway, for the aurora borealis experience, and Mexico, for its culture and gastronomy, and having one of the 7 wonders of the world. In my case, Débora, I loved New York. It was that dream trip I wanted to take, and I fell in love with the city. I really want to go back!
Do the posts you make about your travels serve as a way of promoting possible destinations?
Absolutely! We’ve had many clients asking us for quotes for some of the destinations we’ve been to. Many of them have already been realized. In our shares, we show a lot of the reality of the place we’re visiting in terms of prices, tourist attractions, activities, curiosities, etc.
Do you have any partnerships you can tell us about?
We have many partnerships with suppliers to always offer our clients the best.
Would you like to leave a message for potential new clients?
You’re just a message away from getting to know us, following us on our trips, and making your own trip happen!
Frederico Figueiredo-journalist for Correio dos Açores newspaper–Natalino Viveiros, director
Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Cultures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno–PBBI thanks the sponsorship of the Luso-American Development Foundation from Lisbon, Portugal (FLAD)
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Novidades - The Islands and the Diaspora 