Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill Pfeiffer.
Jill, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story begins on a father/daughter trip I put together to visit the Grand Canyon, rock art sites, and archaeological ruins. It was our second trip together and each time I created a detailed itinerary and gave my dad a copy. My father suggested I do travel as a business. He convinced me that I could help clients in the world of travel because I had already been to many of the places people wanted to visit around the world.
I studied cultural anthropology in college and wanted to visit the places and cultures I read about, so I made travel an integral part of my life. My father was also a world traveler so it may be in the DNA. I spent a year living and traveling around Europe, months backpacking to archaeological sites around the world, I trekked gorillas and chimps in Uganda, visited many areas of Polynesia and later Indonesia, Central and South America. As a Professor of Anthropology, I love sharing my stories, pictures, and experiences with my students. I traveled as a backpacker and later I ventured out to luxury all-inclusive type travel and recently added cruising to the list! There is something for everyone out there who wants to get out and see the world. Directing people to sustainable, respectful, and thoughtful travel is my specialty and I work with travel providers who give back to the local communities who are affected by tourism. My company philosophy comes from a quote from Mark Twain, “One must travel to learn”. Traveling opens the mind and transforms the soul. Diverse World Travel, the name of my company, is a nod to an educational video series I worked on as an advisor. I truly believe that to learn about oneself and the world, one must travel. My hashtag is #professoroftravel.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The idea I had for my business and what it is today is very different. Finding your niche is a journey in and of itself. I found that this is a great side gig for now while I continue to teach as my main source of income. There is a steep learning curve and of course, the pandemic has obliterated a couple of years’ worth of business or more. The silver lining is that that pandemic gave me time to vet travel providers and decide which ones are reliable partners and which ones are not.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Diverse World Travel?
I specialize in group travel. That is my niche. Family trips, friends who want to travel together, or maybe even colleagues who want a specialized trip. I have traveled extensively by myself. Solo travel is an area of interest for me, especially female solo travelers who want to come together to share stories on a group trip!
What sets me apart is my depth of knowledge of locations and my honest approach to the services I provide. Integrity is everything and I believe that educating people about traveling in a respectful manner can go a long way to opening doors for my clients in foreign countries to get special treatment and an amazing experience for those who are new to traveling abroad.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Here is a fun fact. Did you know that just 10 or so years ago only 25% of Americans had a passport? That number has now increased to 33% and is growing at an incredible rate as of recent. I think the pandemic has people reassessing their priorities and some are making travel to their bucket list places a priority now since the world is reopening. Having a travel advisor saves people money, time, and can help navigate the new normal of all the requirements needed to travel in a post-pandemic world.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.diverseworldtravel.com
- Instagram: @diverseworldtravel
- Facebook: @diverseworldtravel
Image Credits
All photos were taken by Jill Pfeiffer
