Meet Brownell’s Newest Mentee – David Barclay - Brownell Hosting

Brownell Hosting

The Leading Host for Successful Travel Advisors

Meet Brownell’s Newest Mentee – David Barclay

We were just as excited as David to enroll him into Brownell’s host mentoring program, and we just could not wait! In the spirit of innovation and evolution, we executed a mentoring class of one.

As a tenured marketing, strategy, and finance executive, David was eager to launch his business and begin creating dream getaways for his clients. For over 15 years, he has been a consumer of luxury travel including exclusive boutique properties, private guided tours of many of the world’s famous sites, and sailing the oceans on ultra-luxury ships. His passion for and his personal experiences with high-end travel allow him to curate unique experiences and create life-long memories for like-minded travelers.

Read on to learn more about David of Barclay & Company Travel.

 

Why did you become an Independent Luxury Travel Advisor?

As I was considering options for the next phase of my career and launching my own business, I was drawn to the idea of a boutique luxury travel business. Coupled with my love of travel, I realized the best time for me to begin this process was now!

There are plenty of host travel agencies to choose from. Why did you select Brownell Travel’s Mentoring Program?

One thing was for sure – I wanted to go with the best! I did my homework, and I was very thorough about it. During this process, I utilized Host Agency Reviews which was a great resource, and I analyzed every host agency on that website. My list was narrowed down to four with Brownell being at the very top.

I heard that Brownell Travel is the Ivy League School of host agencies, and I found out it’s true! With their level of support, valuable resources, and business model, it became a no-brainer for me that going with Brownell was the best choice.

The size of the host agency I was choosing was also very important. Going with a large company that had 1,400 advisors was not an option – I did not want to be just a number. A much smaller agency with around 15 – 20 was not a good fit for me either. The sweet spot was to go with a company that hosted between 100 – 200 advisors which is exactly what Brownell’s host community has.

How has your experience been so far with Brownell Host Agency?

Great! Brownell is incredible – everyone is extremely friendly and willing to go above and beyond what I had expected to help me out. One cannot know everything, so it’s comforting to have the security of a great network and support system within the Brownell community.

What makes Barclay & Company Travel different from the others?

Every client is special, and every trip is unique. Barclay & Company Travel’s process is thoughtfully designed to get to know my clients, learn their travel personalities and preferences, their objectives for each journey, and how to make their getaways truly remarkable. I aspire to have an ongoing relationship with all my clients and gain more insights into their travel needs as we collectively work together.

What services do you offer?

I provide full-service travel experiences and plan extraordinary vacations for highly discerning clients. A wide range of services are offered including luxury cruises, custom itineraries, and opulent resorts. My goal is to ease and simplify the planning process while delivering uniquely curated trips. This allows my clients to focus their energy on experiencing the world and making life-long memories.    

What kind of experience do you hope to provide to your clients?

Definitely a great experience that is stress-free. I believe people appreciate setting timelines, so during the planning process expectations will be set a planning timeline agreed to by me and my clients. This way, delays are prevented, and headway is made in the right direction. I will do all the heavy lifting and provide the best care for my clients. On a personal note, I’d like to add that I will thoroughly enjoy building these fun and lasting relationships.

Where would you like to travel to next and what do you hope to do?

I have a huge list of places I want to go and things to do. I love being on the water, so for my next travel adventure, the plan is to go on a 15-day trip to Turkey, including charting a private luxury gulet, a Turkish boat, for a week to sail the Turkish coastline. Going to the Antarctic and Galapagos Islands is also at the top of my list. There are so many unique places to enjoy, so it’s exciting to know my travel list will continue to grow.

David calls Chicago home with his lovely wife and three children. He received his BA from the University of Pennsylvania (Go Quakers!) and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University (Go Wildcats!). Along with travel, David enjoys cooking and culinary experiences, is a connoisseur of wines with roughly 400 bottle wine collection, is an avid reader, and spends his summers on Lake Michigan at a second home in Wisconsin.

Whether it’s curating the right multi-week custom vacation, locating the finest luxury cruise itinerary, or finding the right posh resort for a quick weekend getaway, Barclay & Company Travel consistently delivers exceptional experiences for their clients. Why wait? Head to your favorite spot, grab a glass of wine, and contact David to learn more about his services and how he can create your next ultimate getaway!

 

barclayandcotravel.com 

[email protected]

773.209.2100

 

 

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Suzette Mack, San Jose, CA

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