Travel Advisor Success Story: Kimberly Anwar, Magic Family Getaways

Kimberly Anwar (Source: Kimberly Anwar)

Travel Advisor Success Stories focus on accomplished advisors and how they achieved success. Here’s a look at Kimberly Anwar, founder of Magic Family Getaways

How did you get your start as a travel advisor?

It amazes me how much life can change when you decide to follow your intuition. In 2016, I was a mom of three very active boys, working in New York’s financial world in the career I went to college for and truly enjoyed. While I was grateful for my role and proud of my professional background, I found myself at a crossroads.

As a working mom, I was beginning to feel burned out. I knew I needed something different: a career that was virtual, more flexible and creative, and allowed me to be more present with my family while still utilizing my professional experience.

After extensive research, I took a leap of faith and opened Magic Family Getaways, LLC from scratch. I was drawn to building a career that blended my love of travel, family and creating meaningful experiences for others.

From the very beginning, my intuition told me that working with Disney Destinations was the perfect place to start. That decision laid the foundation not only for my career as an advisor, but for what Magic Family Getaways has grown into today.

I began sharing my new business within my local community, and booking by booking, the agency grew faster than I expected. While the business expanded, so did my supplier relationships. Many believed in my vision and embraced the growth of our agency, and I remain deeply grateful for the training, support and trust of those who believed in me from the very beginning.

How did you build your business over the years?

What many people don’t see, especially on social media, is the amount of grit, dedication and behind-the-scenes work it takes to build a business. For me, it truly was built step by step, booking by booking and referral by referral.

Since the start, I focused on building genuine relationships, delivering consistent service and earning trust one client at a time. As my bookings and clients continued to grow, it became clear that I needed support to maintain the level of care my clients deserved. That realization led me to begin welcoming additional advisors into the agency.

The pandemic became a pivotal moment for Magic Family Getaways. About six months before it started, we joined a consortium and intentionally aligned the agency with preferred suppliers, preparing ourselves for growth. Then, while the industry was paused, we were building, putting the right systems, partnerships and resources in place so we would be ready when travel returned.

As travel resumed, we had the tools and relationships we needed to confidently support our clients wherever they wished to go, which fueled our growth to where we are today. Growing a team has allowed Magic Family Getaways to expand thoughtfully and intentionally while staying true to our core values.

What characteristics make you a successful advisor?

At my core, I believe that kindness and humility are the most important character traits, both in my personal life and professional world. When paired with my corporate background in client relationship management, they shape how I lead, serve and support both my clients and my team.

Over the years, I’ve learned that exceptional service should never be dependent on a client’s budget. Whether I’m working on a one-night hotel stay or a two-week luxury vacation, every client receives the same level of care, expertise and attention. Consistency matters, and people remember how you make them feel before, during and after a memorable vacation. This belief has guided my approach throughout my career and carried over into the vacation-planning process, allowing us to deliver thoughtful, personalized experiences with a high level of service.

Another key factor of our success is experiencing the destinations we market and sell. Whether through traveling with my own family, participating in fam trips or site visits, this firsthand experience has directly contributed to our growth.

What have been your greatest challenges?

Finding the right work-life balance has always been one of my greatest challenges. Today, we are a 100% family-run business, and while that is something I’m incredibly proud of, it also requires intention and clear boundaries as we continue to grow thoughtfully and sustainably.

People often see the joy and excitement shared on social media posts, and believe me, it’s real.

Know that behind the scenes, growth takes perseverance. It’s a step-by-step process that requires patience, resilience and long hours.

As a business owner, I wear many hats, from working directly with clients to leading and inspiring our team. I also oversee our agency’s internal structure, supplier relationships, marketing and advertising. My husband oversees all agency operations, and together it truly is a 24/7 endeavor.

Another ongoing challenge has been keeping pace with a rapidly changing world, particularly when it comes to technology and Artificial Intelligence. Staying current is essential, but it also requires constant learning and adaptation. Once we made the decision to invest in best-in-class technology and commit to ongoing training as the industry evolves, it became one of the most impactful decisions we’ve made for our team and our clients.

What are your greatest accomplishments?

Outside of my family and being a mom, I’m incredibly proud to have started Magic Family Getaways from the ground up and grown it into a thriving agency with an amazing team. Over the years, we’ve evolved into a full-service travel agency specializing in land, cruise and group travel, helping clients explore destinations domestically and internationally.

Along the way, our agency has received industry recognition and awards that affirm the meaningful work we do. One accomplishment that holds special significance to me is being voted Best Travel Agency in our community for the past three consecutive years – an honor made even more meaningful because it comes directly from our clients.

Equally important to me is building a community of like-minded travel professionals. We truly are a travel family, and I cherish the time we spend together at events, trainings and celebrations.

What tips can you provide advisors new to the industry?

Stay humble, stay consistent and believe in yourself. Your passion and your story shine through more than you realize. People see it, feel it  and it makes a difference!

Just as we encourage our clients to explore new destinations each year, I believe advisors should do the same within our industry. I encourage them to find an industry group where they feel comfortable, whether that’s attending an ASTA event, taking a CLIA course or getting more involved with your consortium. Investing time and energy in one of these opportunities can be incredibly rewarding.

Committing to learning something new each year will give you a broader understanding of the industry, help you connect with new people in our travel community and allow you to grow with confidence.

Know that this is an incredibly supportive industry filled with kind, generous people who genuinely want to help. Don’t be shy about asking questions, and always remember that you’re never alone on this journey.

As I reflect on my own path, this Walt Disney quote continues to guide me, and I hope it inspires others as well: “When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable.”

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