Day in the life of
Travel Advisor – Gina DiPrima
I’m an Italy Destination Specialist and Travel Advisor. I create custom luxury travel experiences to Italy.
A typical day starts with me connecting with my colleagues overseas, usually by phone, to discuss my clients. We usually talk about my clients’ interests and what they like to do, and based on what I know about them, I suggest some ideas for experiences they’d like to have while in Italy, like tasting wine, hiking, cooking, or other interesting experiences, like meeting an up and coming designer in Milan, driving through the Tuscan countryside in a Ferrari or hunting for truffles in Piedmont. We come up with ideas for creative ways to experience Italy.
Next, I may field some inquiries from prospective clients asking more about what to do in Italy and how I can help them. I’ll talk to them about their past travel, what they liked, and
I’ll also read up on the latest news in Italy and travel news. These days I’m figuring out when people will be able to return to Italy and helping my clients figure out when to safely plan for future travel.
I’ll read a lot of travel books and articles and websites to keep up with new hotel openings and new museums or cultural attractions, and new suppliers doing interesting things. A typical day might be boarding a plane to Italy to meet with hotels and suppliers, and to do quality control checks making sure that I know the guides and can personally vouch for the experiences. I’ll check in on hotels, do site inspections, make sure they’re still up to my standards.
Rolling pasta at Montestigliano
Pros
The pros are that I get to do what I love. I love all aspects of my career. I studied languages and studied abroad in college and get to use that on nearly a daily basis. I love design and I get to be involved with beautiful hotels and spaces. I enjoy creating magical experiences and itineraries that wow my clients. And I love helping clients achieve their travel dreams and making their time overseas just as they had imagined, and more.
I also love working for myself and being independent.
Cons
One of the cons of my job and of running my own business is that I always need to be available. I need to take clients’ calls if they call me early or late or on weekends, either because they have a question, want to book, or need assistance while they’re traveling. That can be a challenging aspect of the job.
