Meet Libby Taft, one of the panelists at our travel-focused Tidbits & Takeaways event next week.
At Tidbits & Takeaways next Tues, Oct 13, at Helix Park, we’ll have a lively discussion with luxury travel advisor Libby Taft, pictured, and United Airlines pilot Amber May. RSVP for brunch bites and mimosas. But, first, meet Libby.
Tell us about your professional background before founding Taft Travel.
I’ve worked in hospitality since I was 15, from the front desk of a day spa to high-end retail and luxury events. I went on to Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts in Houston and Westlake Village, California, working in sales and catering, before going out on my own. My events and marketing business mostly helped hospitality brands launch in Houston. In 2018, while I was looking for a new chapter that still let me do what I love, the opportunity to join SmartFlyer came along. It’s been an incredible fit, and I still can’t believe I get to do this for a living!
True or false. Travel advisors are for the super rich.
False! This is the biggest myth in my industry. For hotel-only bookings, my clients pay nothing extra. I book at the same rate as online, or less, and they often get perks they could never get on their own. We spend our time and energy knowing what’s happening in the world of travel, so our clients can spend theirs on their everyday lives.
How are you compensated?
Like all independent travel advisors, I work on a 100% commission-based structure. For hotel-only bookings, there’s no cost to the client. I offer three hotel options per destination at the same rate, or less, than what you’ll find online. Many partners offer promotions only to their preferred advisors, like us, so my clients often enjoy perks such as a complimentary third or fourth night. Hotels pay us a commission on the back end, negotiated by our agency and/or Virtuoso. For full itineraries, I charge a planning fee per day on the ground. That covers transfers, tours, trains, restaurant recommendations, destination guides and day-by-day planning. Our travel partners also compensate us through commission.
Most fab itinerary you’ve ever planned
Tough one, but one trip stands out: five couples in Africa. They began in Cape Town for a few days in the Winelands, then went to a private concession in Zimbabwe with a private helicopter tour over Victoria Falls. Next, they boarded a luxury train for a seven-day wing-shooting safari across South Africa, then finished with a few days at La Réserve in Paris. Pure magic!
Where in the world you’ve had the best…
Boat ride: Greece. Like Italy, the boats are next-level, but that stretch of the Mediterranean can’t be beat, IMO.
Aperitivo: Nobody does aperitivo like Passalacqua on Lake Como.
Breakfast: Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris. It’s a symphony of service.
Room service: The Dorchester in London. If I have a full day ahead, my arrival order is chicken soup (hydrating and comforting), a club sandwich and a Diet Coke with lemon.
Caviar: Caviar Kaspia in Paris. The €100 potato!
Train ride: Orient Express La Dolce Vita from Rome to Venice. The lounge at the station alone is worth it.
Tips for finally booking that bucket list trip.
-Go in shoulder season. Spring and fall mean fewer crowds, better rates, and often better weather than peak summer. Think Amalfi in May or Paris in October!
-Book earlier than you think. The best suites, safari camps and trains like the Orient Express sell out a year or more ahead, especially for groups.
-Do fewer places, longer. Two or three stops beats six rushed ones. You’ll actually unpack and feel like you’ve been somewhere.
-Stop waiting for the “perfect” time. There isn’t one! Pick the dates, put down the deposit, and let the countdown be half the fun.
Get travel tips by subscribing to Libby’s Substack, Hotel Libby.